NIMBY, Equity and Liability for Communities

NIMBY Equity and Liability: Why Planners Need to Understand Fair Housing Law

During the October, 2022 APA Idaho Conference in Boise, Approximately 60 planning professionals heard from experts Erin Anderson (Director, The Housing Company) and Don Elliott, FAICP, J.D. (Director, Clarion Associates) on the impacts of growing NIMBY opposition to residential development that is affordable and/or serves diverse populations. The session references findings and comments from the most recent 2022 Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing, and provides examples of barriers to fair housing choice and best practices in planning to reduce violations and liability. The session was moderated by Erik Kingston, PCED (Housing Resources Coordinator, IHFA).

Session Description. Housing availability and affordability are top of mind for every community. As local government seeks to cultivate housing diversity and choice, persistent local opposition to multifamily housing, density or diversity poses both a barrier and liability. The Fair Housing Act defines an “aggrieved person” as “any person who . . . claims to have been injured by a discriminatory housing practice,” and the Act expressly protects the rights of housing developers—as well as minorities, families or people with disabilities.

When developers of otherwise conforming subsidized projects are consistently denied permits because of neighborhood pushback, local governments may be liable. NIMBY can drive emotionally charged short-term thinking about what should be long-term planning and development strategies. This panel of fair housing, planning and legal experts will explore existing case law and invite participants to a discussion of practical civic engagement strategies to stay focused on planning principles and long-term community benefits.

Watch the session video (Courtesy, APA Idaho Chapter)

Accessible Communications

Below are links and resources referenced in the session, Accessibility in Communications, featured in the 2022 Conference on Housing and Economic Development, sponsored by the Idaho Housing and Finance Association.

How to make your communications—from your website to your printed material —accessible to non-native speakers and individuals with sensory related disabilities (vision or hearing).

Contributors and Speakers:

Laine Amoureux, Account Representative, The International Association of Accessibility Professionals; and
Carolyn Quintero, Web Accessibility Analyst, Boise State University

Presentation Materials

Idaho Digital Accessibility Consortium (IDAC) This work is sponsored by the Idaho Assistive Technology Project, a grassroots group of Idahoans invested in disability inclusion. Webpages to be updated soon.

Community of Practice (AKA Accessibility Therapy) As your schedule allows please feel free to drop-in on any Thursday between 1:30 and 3:00 p.m. MT and chat, while you work, with members of our disability advocacy community of practice! No topics are off limits, nor are any going to be “scheduled”. The goal is to create a space for spontaneous connection, much like we might have if we were able to safely meet in-person before/after meetings or in our offices.

Note. Email nstallings at uidaho.edu or laine at amoureuxatconsulting.com to be added to the Community of Practice (AKA Accessibility Therapy) and/or the IDAC newsletter – for training announcements.

International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP) – a professional association for anyone working on accessibility and disability-inclusion

Digital.gov Accessible Social Media Toolkit The Federal Social Media Accessibility Toolkit Hackpad: Improving the Accessibility of Social Media for Public Service. From the Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy: “The toolkit is intended to help agencies evaluate the accessibility of their social media programs for persons with disabilities, identify areas that need improving, and share their own ideas and recommendations for helping ensuring our modernization programs are easily accessed by all who need them.”

AccessibleSocial Accessible Social is a free resource hub for digital marketers, communication professionals, content creators, and everyday social media users who want to learn how to make their content inclusive and accessible for people with disabilities.

Other Examples

Video presentations. Example of audio description with ASL support for video by the Idaho Access Project.

Accessible events. The Idaho Access Project teamed up with the Womens and Childrens Alliance to create a more accessible route for their 2021 and Oct. 2 2022 SueB fundraising run/walk. The Urban Route features audio descriptions of the route and points of interest along the way.

Language Access Plan and the AFHMP

Courtesy of Gary Hanes, founding member of the Idaho Fair Housing Forum and Managing Member of Gary E. Hanes & Associates, LLC

“HUD has recently issued information bearing on the Language Access Plan (LAP) and the Affirmative Fair Housing Marketing Plan (AFHMP) and how they relate to one another. In the attachment below, we explore this a little further in hopes that it will help assisted housing providers navigate between these two complementary plans and meet the language access obligations of both.”

LANGUAGE ACCESS PLAN AND THE AFFIRMATIVE FAIR HOUSING MARKETING PLAN

SILC Hosts Eastern Idaho Listening Sessions

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETINGS | AVISO DE REUNIONES COMMUNITARIAS

The Idaho State Independent Living Council (SILC) is partnering with the Idaho Centers for Independent Living (CILs) to host public meetings across Idaho. The SILC and the CILs serve Idahoans across disabilities and lifespan. The SILC and CILs are collecting information to develop a three-year (2024-2026) State Plan for Independent Living (SPIL) that addresses Independent Living needs across Idaho. The purpose of the meeting is to:

Help us understand how the community is serving people in regard to housing, transportation, healthcare, education, job training, employment, recreation, community access and any other areas impacting Idahoans with disabilities.
Help us determine where to direct resources to improve opportunities for people with disabilities of any age to live in their community with the supports they need.
Provide an overview of the duties and responsibilities of the SILC, regarding the State Plan, systemic advocacy, education and other activities.
Provide an overview of the duties and responsibilities of the CILs and the core services they provide in our communities.
Tell the public about the State Plan for Independent Living.

All locations are accessible. Materials are provided in accessible formats. To request language interpretation (ASL, Spanish, etc.) or disability accommodations, call the SILC at least 10 days in advance 208-334-3800; toll-free 1-800-487-4866 or email:

Please share to social media

If your organization has a presence on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, please promote these public meetings and the Statewide Assessment Survey below. Please tag SILC and our partners at the Idaho Caregivers Alliance in your posts:

@allianceidaho (Twitter)
@idahocaregiveralliance (Facebook and Instagram)
@IdahoSILC (Facebook)

Southeastern Idaho – All Times Mountain

Burley, ID | ENGLISH | ESPAÑOL

April 21, 2022 | 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (English) | 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. (Spanish)

Community Council of Idaho | 437 E. 13^th St.

Chubbuck, ID | ENGLISH | ESPAÑOL

April 21, 2022 | 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Chubbuck City Hall | 290 E Linden Ave.

Preston, ID | ENGLISH | ESPAÑOL

April 22, 2022 | 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. (English) | 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. (Spanish)

Larsen Sant Public Library | 109 S. 1^st St. E

Driggs, ID | ENGLISH | ESPAÑOL

April 23, 2022 | 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Seniors West of the Tetons | 60 S. Main Street, #200

Ammon, ID | ENGLISH | ESPAÑOL

April 25, 2022 | 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

“The Clubhouse” | 1619 Curlew Drive

Rexburg, ID | ENGLISH | ESPAÑOL

April 25, 2022 | 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Madison School District Office | 60 W. Main Street

Salmon, ID | ENGLISH | ESPAÑOL

April 26, 2022 | 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Salmon Senior Center | 200 Main Street

Challis, ID | ENGLISH | ESPAÑOL

April 27, 2022 | 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Challis Senior Center | 695 Challis Creek Road

Mission

The Idaho SILC’s mission is to promote the independent living philosophy for all Idahoans with disabilities: choice, self-determination and access for all. The Current SPIL (Federal Fiscal Year 2021-2023) may be reviewed at the following website: www.silc.idaho.gov/plans-and-reports/

Statewide assessment, survey

If you’re unable to attend a meeting, or would like to give us additional input, please complete our survey at the link below:

English: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5R7KZDV
Espanol: https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/Z25FVYV

Additional formats, including large print and Braille are available on request. Please contact us for assistance: 208-334-3800; toll-free 1-800-487-4866 or email: