Free Seminar On Fair Housing Act Set For Toms River

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Do you know what the Fair Housing Act means for you as a resident?

A free one-day fair housing accessibility seminar set for Wednesday in Toms River will explain to residents what their rights are, as well as what it means to comply with fair housing regulations for developers, builders and administrators of housing developments.

The seminar is sponsored by Toms River, the nonprofit Solutions To End Poverty Soon (STEPS) and the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development.

This is the 50th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act, which was signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson in 1968.

The seminar will focus on such topics as how the fair housing act and other related legislation protects residents from housing discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability and familial status. Fair Housing counselors will be present to listen to residents and their concerns.

"This free, daylong seminar will provide an overview of the rules and specifications required by fair housing laws," Toms River Mayor Thomas H. Kelaher said. "This conference is important because residents should understand the laws and what rights they have so they can fully use and enjoy their homes."

The featured speaker for the event is Lynne Patton, HUD's regional administrator of Region II, which encompasses New York and New Jersey. Regional administrators serve as HUD’s liaisons to mayors, city managers, elected representatives, state and local officials, members of Congress, private and nonprofit developers, and customers. They oversee the delivery of HUD programs and services to communities and evaluate their efficiency and effectiveness. There are 10 regional administrators in the United States.

Patton's presentation will focus on the history of the Fair Housing Act.

"For the past 50 years, HUD has lead the charge to protect tenants from discrimination and I commend the Township of Toms River for bringing together stakeholders and residents to raise awareness of the unacceptable reality that discrimination continues to adversely affect tenants and their families," Patton said. "I look forward to working with all involved to ensure they are aware of the HUD resources available to them, so that the Toms River community can one day eradicate the silos of housing discrimination.”

The seminar is scheduled to run from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Wednesday, April 18, in the L. Manuel Hirshblond Room at Toms River Town Hall, 33 Washington Street, 2nd Floor.

Parking is available behind the municipal building or at the Ocean County parking garage, located at 129 Hooper Avenue, about 1½ blocks from town hall. Free parking is also available on lot at West Water and Irons streets.

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