Housing Choices is Focus of Conference

The Tampa Bay Fair Housing Consortium will present Housing Choices, Free of Discrimination on Friday, April 19. Check-in is at 8 a.m. The program runs from 8:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. The day-long conference will be held at the Centre Club, 123 S. West Shore Blvd. in Tampa.

The Pinellas County Office of Human Rights is a cosponsor of the event, which is geared toward housing providers, real estate agents, property managers, attorneys, government officials, apartment personnel, homeowners and the general public.

The presenters are Michael Maurer, deputy chief, Housing and Civil Enforcement Section, Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice; Avery Friedman, CNN legal correspondent and civil rights attorney; and Chuck Bonamer, National Fair Housing trainer, who will present the topic, Diversity Marketing on the Internet.

Topics that will be covered include:

• Fair Housing litigation and enforcement
• Department of Housing and Urban Development Equal Access Rule: sexual orientation, gender identity and marital status
• Fair Housing law in today’s world: Internet ads, reasonable accommodations and modifications
• Diversity marketing on the Internet: what it is and how to develop a diversity-friendly website, including anti-discriminatory advertising guidelines

Real estate agents will earn three hours of state-approved continuing education credits. Approval for CLEs for attorneys is pending.

The cost of the conference is $25 if registration is received before April 12 and $35 at the door. The price includes lunch. Registration is online at www.GTAR.org or call (727) 464-4801.

The Tampa Bay Fair Housing Consortium’s partners are Bay Area Apartment Association, Bay Area Legal Services, Inc., City of Clearwater, City of Largo, City of St. Petersburg, City of Tampa, Hillsborough County, Greater Tampa Association of REALTORS, Gulf Coast Legal Services, Inc., and Pinellas County Office of Human Rights.

Pinellas County complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you require special accommodations, including the provision of auxiliary aids or services, please contact Mark Esparza at (727) 464-4801 464-4062 (V/TDD) or email mesparza@pinellascounty.org.

For more information on Pinellas County services and programs, visit www.pinellascounty.org, now with LiveChat, or create a shortcut to www.pinellascounty.org/mobile on any smartphone. Pinellas County government is on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

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