Tuesday, April 23, 2024 | St. Lawrence County, NY
In recognition of the passage of the Federal Fair Housing Act 44 years ago, the county Board of Legislators has proclaimed April as Fair Housing Month, to promote equal housing opportunity. To raise …
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In recognition of the passage of the Federal Fair Housing Act 44 years ago, the county Board of Legislators has proclaimed April as Fair Housing Month, to promote equal housing opportunity.
To raise public awareness that housing discrimination is against the law, the St. Lawrence County Fair Housing Task Force printed and distributed color posters to nearly 270 different schools, banks, realtors, and non-profit organizations throughout the county.
The Task Force has also revised a model rental lease that may be used between landlords and tenants. The lease was revised over a series of months and included input from the St. Lawrence County Board of Realtors and the St. Lawrence County Bar Association. New or expanded components of the revised lease include honoring the lease when a rental unit is sold to a new property owner, early lease terminations for active military personnel, senior citizens and victims of domestic violence, and a tenant’s remedies for loss of service.
The rental agreement also includes provisions for tenants when a unit is weatherized or repaired with state or federal funds and provisions for landlords and tenants who participate in the Housing Choice Voucher Program. The revised lease is available at http://www.co.st-lawrence.ny.us/Departments/Planning/AdvisoryBoards/FairHousingTaskForce.
The primary intent of the Fair Housing Task Force is to promote equal housing opportunity of a person’s choice.
Persons who feel their housing rights have been violated are encouraged to contact the Task Force. Task Force members include representatives from the county Office for the Aging, Ministry of the North Country, Potsdam Neighborhood Center, the Legal Aid Society of Northern New York, and the Village of Potsdam.
The Task Force is seeking representatives from the banking and real estate industry who would be willing to participate in meetings that are held every other month. They can be reached at 379-2292 or planning@stlawco.org.
Enacted in 1968, the Fair Housing Act prohibits housing discrimination based on a person’s race or color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status or disability.
