[Code 1964, § 10 1/2-31]
(a)
The goals of the City fair housing and equal opportunity program
are to:
(b)
The measurable objectives of the fair housing and equal opportunity
program are designed to assist individuals and families in obtaining
suitable housing accommodations and to reduce discrimination and complaints
of discrimination.
[Code 1964, § 10 1/2-32]
(a)
Services of the program include the following:
(1)
Placement. Direct and intensive assistance in finding suitable
rental or purchased housing by working with sellers, landlords and
agents to actually place the individual or family in an acceptable
apartment or house of the individual's or family's choice.
(2)
Listing service. Maintaining a listing of agents, sellers, landlords
and available property that afford equal access to minorities, elderly
and low- to middle-income individuals and families.
(3)
Counseling. Counseling on the legal basis for open and fair
housing opportunities, the meaning of discrimination and how to recognize
it, what to do if discrimination occurs and the extent of available
legal and administrative procedures for redress.
(4)
Public education. Educating residents of the City in fair housing
law and other pertinent housing issues through a program of general
information, public speaking, public service announcements, newsletters
and pamphlets and meeting with the City's Department of Urban
and Economic Development, Bureau of Housing and Neighborhood Revitalization,
Greater Utica Board of Realtors, municipal housing authority, local
lending institutions, etc., to define topics to be addressed through
such public education.
(5)
Litigation. Forwarding to the appropriate office of the New
York State Human Rights Commission and/or the U.S. Department of Housing
and Urban Development cases of discriminatory selling or renting practices,
including assisting parties in filling out and filing either HUD Form
903 or 903A, Housing Discrimination Complaint, and following up to
note and report on final dispositions.
(6)
Budget and credit management. Counseling and instruction in
household and personal budgeting with particular emphasis upon undertaking
and discharging indebtedness for housing which may include assistance
in overcoming current or past credit difficulties.
(7)
Liaison. Establishing liaison and working relationships with
the Greater Utica Board of Realtors, municipal housing authority,
lending institutions with the City, community-based organizations,
associations and agencies with housing interest, code enforcement
and other housing units of City government.
(b)
During the first year of operation, the City fair housing and equal
opportunity program will focus its attention on educating, informing
and assisting minorities, elderly and low- to middle-income persons
seeking to rent or buy housing or having other housing-related problems,
i.e., rent subsidy, code violation, land-sales contracts, apartment
inspection and, where necessary, technical assistance in obtaining
a mortgage.
(c)
Housing education and information will focus on the dissemination
of the fair housing law through public speaking, pamphlets, newsletters
and public service announcements. The objectives are designed to aid
and provide service to persons and families who lack the ability to
fully articulate their needs and adequately accomplish their goal
of adequate housing of their choice and also to recognize discrimination
if it is present.
[Code 1964, § 10 1/2-33(a), (b)]
(a)
The Mayor shall appoint a Fair Housing Officer.
(b)
The Fair Housing Officer shall meet with the Commissioner of Urban
and Economic Development and representatives of other housing assistance
services to distribute the activities and responsibilities of the
fair housing and equal opportunity program.
[Code 1964, § 10 1/2-33(c)]
The schedule for implementing the fair housing and equal opportunity
plan is outlined in the schedule for implementation attached to the
resolution from which this article is derived.
[Code 1964, § 10 1/2-34]
(a)
The methods used to evaluate the fair housing and equal opportunity
program will be the administrative audit to determine staff performance
and the research method of post-test design to determine the effectiveness
and level of service rendered clients.
(b)
Forms for evaluation will be developed in cooperation with the staff
of the City's Bureau of Housing and Neighborhood Revitalization.
[Code 1964, § 10 1/2-35]
(a)
The Fair Housing Officer will submit quarterly reports to the Mayor
including, but not limited to the following:
(b)
In addition, the Fair Housing Officer will submit to the Mayor an
annual report, available as a public record, including the following:
(1)
A financial summary of quarterly reports broken down by program
activity.
(2)
A narrative summary of the accomplishments of the program including
the following:
a.
Work completed.
b.
Ranking of problem issues.
c.
Attendance and minutes of specific meetings held with the Greater
Utica Board of Realtors, municipal housing authority, lending institutions
within the City, community-based agencies involved with housing, code
enforcement, other housing units of City government, etc.
