Human Relations Commission Announces Fair Housing Public Education Campaign And Activities

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Contact: Charlotte Wade, 240-777-8450

For Immediate Release: April 23, 2001

Human Relations Commission Announces
Fair Housing Public Education Campaign and Activities

April is Fair Housing Month and the Montgomery County Human Relations Commission (HRC) has launched a campaign designed to educate the public about fair housing laws in Montgomery County. The campaign includes brochures and bus placards, as well as paid advertisements in local newspapers. It also includes public service announcements, recorded in English and Spanish, that are currently running on local cable television stations.

“Montgomery County leads the nation in protecting its residents from unfair housing discrimination practices,” said Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan. “To help prevent discrimination in our community, we need to be proactive through community awareness efforts such as this public education campaign.”

For the second year, HRC will sponsor a mock trial on April 24 in the Judicial Center at 50 Maryland Avenue in Rockville. The trial will address a fair housing case and it will be presided over by Judge Paul McGuckian.

The annual Fair Housing Month poster contest that HRC coordinates with the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) also promotes community awareness.

Nearly 130 students from three elementary schools in Takoma Park participated in the third annual contest. The participating schools were selected by the MCPS social studies department. This year’s theme was “Fair Housing Builds Good Neighborhoods.” The winning poster was submitted by a fourth grade student from Pine Crest Elementary School and was selected by a panel of HRC staff and members of the Interagency Fair Housing Coordinating Group.

"The Commission's Fair Housing Program has received national attention and has received the prestigious HUD 'Best Practices' award for the past 2 years,” said HRC Executive Director Odessa Shannon. “The County's commitment to insuring fair housing opportunities for all residents continues to be a top priority of this Administration."

For more information on fair housing laws in Montgomery County, or to obtain copies of the brochures, call the Human Relations Commission at 240-777-8450.

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