While some see regulation as a burden, many professional see Universal Design principals as a great way to inspire creativity and innovation. Meeting the multiple challenges of simplicity of use and universal access can result in elegant and timeless design that is appreciated by all who encounter it in daily use.

1. Equitable
Provide equitable access for everyone in an integrated and dignified manner. Design should appeal to everyone and provide an equal level of safety for all users.

2. Flexible
The built environment or product accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and abilities throughout the user’s lifespan.

3. Simple and Intuitive
The layout and design is easily understood by users with a wide range of experience or cognitive ability. Design elements .

4. Perceptible Information
Information should make use of multiple senses when possible. Visual, audible or tactile methods expand utility, safety and effectiveness of the environment or product.

5. Tolerance for Error
The goal here is to reduce the chance of unintentional misuse or injury by anticipating various user abilities and perceptual styles.

6. Low Physical Effort
The environment or product should accommodate users with limited strength, stamina or dexterity..

7. Size and Space for Approach and Use
Design should reflect the needs of diverse individuals to easily access and use space, equipment and controls. All potential users should be able to reach, see and operate all elements of the home or product safely.

Visit hud’s conference site for more details.

A week-long conference set in New Orleans to explore new developments in testing and enforcement, and the potential impact of pending regulatory changes involving “Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing.”

This post is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:

Password:

Settlement in discrimination case in Renton. Illustrates the importance of equitable and consistent treatment of all applicants.

Refugees were in fact responsible and successful homeowners in their native country prior to forced relocation. They can succeed here as well if given the chance. Every refugee receives cash and/or housing assistance for several months after their arrival. They also receive extensive case management and support from local resettlement agencies to secure employment and adjust to life in their new community.

Fair housing law requires housing providers to treat every applicant equally, and that places a burden on them to document credit, rental and criminal history for each applicant without exception. For those who lack any history in these areas, official refugee status (Section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act), provides “immediate lawful status with all the rights and privileges of a U.S. citizen (except the right to vote or work for a government entity.)

There is some irony here for all involved; for years, strict fair housing testing and enforcement have had the desired impact on providers, who are now more focused than ever on compliance, and avoid any flexibility or perceived subjectivity in the tenant screening process. Landlords are reduced to using the same yardstick to measure all applicants. When asked now by advocates to treat refugees ‘differently,’ many providers are understandably leery of deviating from the bright line drawn for them by HUD and its enforcement contractors for many years.

Accepting alternate documentation.We all need to expand our concept of ‘documentation’ to remain compliant as this situation evolves. Refugees are brought into this country for resettlement by the U.S. State Department, and carefully screened by the Department of Homeland Security, United Nations refugee Agency. Here are some examples of alternate documentation:

Alternate Documentation

To get the facts and contacts regarding renting to refugees, download:

refugees housing brochure

or contact the following agencies:

Agency for New Americans (208) 338-0033
Idaho Office for Refugees (208) 336-4222
International Rescue Committee (208) 344-1792
World Relief (208) 323-4964
English Language Center (208) 336-5533

See also Mercy Housing’s useful resources at:
Refugee Housing

For purposes of this site, ‘housing provider’ primarily refers to property owners and managers, or any individual or entity that rents, leases, sells, represents, manages, or offers any type of housing to a tenant. Housing providers may also be those who design, engineer, and/or build residential structures for occupancy. Housing providers must understand the responsibilities and limitations imposed on them by the Fair Housing Act and other federal laws.

The term ‘community’ is used broadly to refer to local city or county government. The task of permitting and regulating development and construction falls to local government entities. In some cases, local government owns and manages shelters or transitional/affordable housing.

This section is provided to help share the perspective of housing providers with respect to fair housing law. Numerous web sites, including www.hud.gov focus exclusively on tenant rights and how to file complaints, but few resources exist to let providers know their rights and responsibilities, how to promote compliance or the resources available to them should they receive a complaint.

Another great resource for providers is Fair Housing Accessibility First! FHAF contracts with HUD to provide fair housing training with an emphasis on FH Design and Construction Requirements. FHF offers a toll-free Design and Construction Resource Center: (888) 341-7781 (V/TTY)

Many Idaho providers have had good experiences contacting HUD’s FHEO experts for technical assistance or to learn techniques for compliance.

In Idaho, contact the Boise Field Office at (208) 334-1990 / email the Idaho FHEO contact or call the Seattle Hub office toll-free at (800) 877-0246

Idaho’s ADA Task Force also provides technical support and training for accessible Design and Construction of the built environment, with particular expertise in the Americans with Disabilities Act. (208) 344-5590 (V/TTY). There’s much information on our Resources and Links page.

While Idaho’s fair housing advocates (i.e., Idaho Legal Aid Services, Intermountain Fair Housing Council, Idaho Human Rights Commission) are key to understanding local testing and enforcement patterns and practices, there are also civil rights attorneys who specialize in educating housing providers and communities on fair housing practices and the rights of providers to representation in related cases.

Remember, pets are one thing, but legitimate service, support or companion* animals are another under local and federal law. (*In Idaho, ‘companion’ animals regarded as having a therapeutic purpose for someone with a qualifying disability may not be considered pets)

The Delta Society, a national organization promoting service animal training, education and use offers this detailed description of the various categories as follows:

“Service animals are legally defined (Americans With Disabilities Act, 1990) and are trained to meet the disability-related needs of their handlers who have disabilities. Federal laws protect the rights of individuals with disabilities to be accompanied by their service animals in public places. Service animals are not considered “pets.”

Therapy animals are not legally defined by federal law, but some states have laws defining therapy animals. They provide people with contact to animals, but are not limited to working with people who have disabilities. They are usually the personal pets of their handlers, and work with their handlers to provide services to others. Federal laws have no provisions for people to be accompanied by therapy animals in places of public accommodation that have “no pets” policies. Therapy animals usually are not service animals.

Companion animal is not legally defined, but is accepted as another term for pet (note exception under Idaho law above).

“Social/therapy” animals likewise have no legal definition. They often are animals that did not complete service animal or service dog training due to health, disposition, trainability, or other factors, and are made available as pets for people who have disabilities. These animals might or might not meet the definition of service animals.” (Source: Delta Society)

Fraudulent claims – While the vast majority of reasonable accommodation requests involving animals are legitimate, some abuse does occur (although the presence of fraud in a segment of overall requests is no reason to deny a specific request). Third-party professionals asked to write letters requesting a service, support or companion animal should not take the request lightly; in the event of a legal challenge, their judgment (just like anyone involved in a legal dispute) may be open to question. Many disability rights advocates stress that fraudulent or frivolous claims undermine the credibility of the process and ultimately insult those whom this law was designed to protect. It is in everyone’s interest to maintain the integrity of this legal right.

Multiple animals – “The Fair Housing Act does not specifically limit the number of service animals an individual with a disability may have. Requests for multiple service animals may be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. It is possible that housing providers may impose limitations if it can be demonstrated that an individual’s request for reasonable accommodation exceeds what is necessary for that person to have full use and enjoyment of the premises.” (Source: Delta Society)

Damage, behavior and cleanup – Lease agreements may still hold tenants liable for damages caused by such animals and/or for unreasonable impacts to fellow tenants or neighbors. Tenants may still be expected to comply with local leash, kennel ordinances and/or laws involving animal waste.

Several resources exist for housing consumers, advocates or providers to learn more about their rights and responsibilities under the Fair Housing Act. Idaho Legal Aid Services, IHFA, the Idaho Department of Commerce, and other stakeholder groups sponsor regular fair housing and accessible design and construction workshops for housing industry professionals. The Idaho Fair Housing Forum coordinates a variety of collaborative projects that reflect the common goal of the members: to reduce costs and injury associated with unintentional violations by increasing awareness of fair housing law. For current information on upcoming training opportunities, e-mail hirc@ihfa.org or visit www.fairhousingforum.org and select News and Events.

The Intermountain Fair Housing Council (IFHC) offers targeted training on request for advocates, providers and consumer groups. In addition, housing providers may contract with IFHC to conduct “self-testing” of its programs or facilities. In some cases, IFHC may provide professional testers to evaluate compliance in policies and procedures. IHFC may agree to a “grace period” within which it holds the client harmless for any areas of non-compliance discovered during self-testing. Clients may use this period to address violations. For more information, contact IHFC at (800) 717-0695 or at www.idahofairhousing.org

Idaho Legal Aid Services also offers fair housing training for various groups through its regional offices. ILAS represents tenants and other consumers in non fee-generating cases. Along with IFHC, ILAS receives funding from HUD’s Fair Housing Inititiative Partnerships (FHIP) program to provide enforcement and education. You may reach ILAS at (208) 345-0106 or visit their Web site at www.idaholegalaid.org

HUD’s Seattle FHEO office periodically supports and facilitates training to various stakeholder groups in Idaho and the Northwest. For more information about HUD training and outreach opportunities, call toll-free (800) 877-0246.

Links to other regional training partners (besides those listed above):

• Fair Housing Council of Oregon (503) 223-3542 / www.fhco.org
• Northwest Fair Housing Alliance (509) 325-2665 / nwfairhouse@nwadv.com

Note. If you are aware of other regional training partners or opportunities, please send any relevant information to hirc@ihfa.org.

• A parent
• A person who has legal custody of the child or children or
• The designee of the parent or legal custodian, with the parent or custodian’s written permission.
• Familial status protection also applies to pregnant women and anyone securing legal custody of a child under 18.