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Mid Hudson Times, Wednesday, December 26, 2018
Fair housing advocates gather in Newburgh
Continued from page 1
taking advantage,” said Mroz. “What is
challenging today is that enforcement
work is much more different than it was
50 years ago. Many people going into
the housing market they do not know
that landlords are lying to them that
something is available. Instances of
discrimination are way unreported.”
The Fair Housing Act prohibits
discrimination based on race, religion,
color, sex, national origin, the presence
of children and disability, and sexual
orientation. In New York State the human
rights law protects against discrimination
from sexual orientation, age, marital
status and military status.
Discrimination is often subtle and not
easy to detect but Mroz outlined what
kinds of discrimination will violate fair
housing laws. The refusal to rent, sell, or
negotiate, advertisement or statements
that indicate preference, limitation
or discrimination, falsely stating
that housing is unavailable, putting
applicants in different areas to segregate
a population, giving harsher terms and
conditions to certain renters than others,
Newburgh residents listened to presentations at a recent meeting of the City of Newburgh
Human Rights Commission.
providing less favorable services, and the
refusal for accommodations for people
with disabilities.
The lengthy list is just a few of the
Councilman Anthony Grice took part in the
discussion declaring his commitment to
providing fair housing for the residents of
Newburgh.
rights tenants have based on fair housing
laws, the issue is being able to speak
up without fear of retaliation from a
landlord.
Honor Society students doing good deeds
Catliin Mroz of the Fair Housing Justice
Center works not only with individuals but
municipalities to tackle systemic issues of
fair housing.
Katelyn Cordero
Honor students from GAMS Tech in Newburgh volunteered at the monthly Saint Mary’s Giving Day last Friday. Story on page 5.
“We need equal representation,” said
Newburgh resident Gabe Berlin. “The
landlords have political representation but
there isn’t enough tenant representation.
Newburgh is changing and we need the
manage the displacement that is being
brought on by this change. There is a
systematic structure in place that allows
for tenants to be taken advantage of.”
The Fair Housing Justice Center helps
as many tenants as possible with their
services. It operates in New York City,
Dutchess, Nassau, Putnam, Rockland,
Suffolk, Westchester and Orange County.
To find out more information about
the justice center or to call for help
with housing discrimination you
can call, 212-400-8203,
email fhjc@
fairhousingjustice.org or visit their
website at fairhousingjustice.org.