New IFHF Schedule and Focus!

Bus benches continue to support fair housing..and sitters!

As mentioned in a previous post, the Idaho Fair Housing Forum has resumed regular monthly meetings to restore productive collaboration and conversation among diverse stakeholders. Our work on regional statewide campaigns (like the poster pictured above) is crucial to expanding awareness of fair housing. These meetings are a safe place to ask questions, seek consensus and work toward common goals. Partners who are respectful of others and approach the Forum in good faith are welcome.

Check back after September 30th for the late 2022 – 2023 meeting schedule and topics.

All meetings will be the 3rd Wednesday of every month at 10 am MT/9 am PT. Main meeting topics will occupy 60 minutes, but we can hold space for 90 minutes to accommodate additional conversation.
Quarterly Open Forum Meetings will be held October, January, April, July and be more informal, featuring a more open roundtable discussion, with short videos for consideration. The first of these is Segregated by Design
Monthly Training meetings are planned for November, December, February, March, May, June, August, and September and will feature topical training modules and Q&A
Annual Meetings will be in-person (public health situation permitting) and coincide with existing statewide events focusing on housing and related topics to allow statewide partners to consolidate travel time and costs.

We look forward to expanding this group to be more inclusive and diverse, and to broaden our geographic scope. We welcome housing providers and professionals, planners, building officials, people of all abilities, consumer advocates, and anyone interested in learning from one another about the origins, interpretations, importance and impacts of the Fair Housing Act and related laws.

Bookmark this post and check back for more updates!

Idaho Fair Housing Month Activities

“Fair Housing Month is a time to recommit to our nation’s obligation to ensure that everyone has equal access to safe, affordable housing,” —HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge.

Idaho Fair Housing Forum members have long coordinated training and special events during Fair Housing Month, and 2021 is no different!

April 5 – Racism in Land Use discussing history, maps and redlining, restrictive deeds and CC&Rs, and FHA protections (hosted by the University of Idaho and the Intermountain Fair Housing Council). Learn more or register here.

April 6 – Basics of Fair Housing.* Attorney David Penny with Tomlinson & Associates provides an overview of the Fair Act and its implications for housing professionals in this online, 75-minute presentation.

April 13 – Fair Housing: Real Estate Focus.* Attorney David Penny with Tomlinson & Associates presents fair housing information for Real Estate Professionals in this online, 75-minute presentation.

April 20 – Fair Housing for Transitional Housing and Shelter Providers.* Attorney Eric Steven of Eric Steven Law Office in Spokane describes the unique challenges and best practices for those assisting unhoused populations.

April 27 – Limited English Proficiency Basics for Federally Assisted Programs and Services.* Gary Hanes of Gary E. Hanes & Associates, LLC will outline what managers of federally assisted programs—particularly assisted housing—should consider as they work to address clients, tenants or stakeholders with limited English proficiency, or LEP.

Gary Hanes_Things to Know About Language Access
FHIP intro slides_LEP 4_27_21
Session video
Chat file LEP session

View IHFA’s 2021 Fair Housing Videos here.*

Request IHFA Fair Housing Outreach Materials here.*

See HUD’s 2021 Fair Housing Month statements here.

*The work that provided the basis for these publications and training was supported by funding under a grant with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The substance and findings of the work are dedicated to the public. The author and publisher are solely responsible for the accuracy of the statements and interpretations contained in this publication. Such interpretations do not necessarily reflect the views of the Federal Government.

Great Turnout for March 14 Design and Construction Training with Doug Anderson

With 165 confirmed participants in the Boise City Council Chambers—and dozens more following via webcast—we’re very happy with the attendance for this year’s Design and Construction Training. We want to thank the City of Boise and our Fair Housing Forum partners around Idaho for helping us deliver this important training to those who can use it.

The Boise venue drew a large percentage of architects, with additional representation from the building and development industry, and even a civil engineer!

Trainer Doug Anderson with LCM Architects brings decades of experience relative to the creation and implementation of Fair Housing and Access regulations. Prior to his work with LCM, Doug served on the U.S. Access Board, the federal agency responsible for developing guidelines under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) from 2003 to 2011. He chaired the Board from 2009 to 2010.

The Idaho training is one of ten nationwide events sponsored by HUD during Spring of 2017, and organized by Fair Housing Accessibility FIRST, an initiative promoting compliance with the Fair Housing Act design and construction requirements. The program offers comprehensive and detailed instruction programs, useful online web resources, and a toll-free information line for technical guidance and support.

For more information or to view and download resources and training materials, visit fairhousingfirst.org
For information on accessible/visitable single-family construction, see Inclusive Design Gets Customers in the Door.
For information on the importance of access in retail and business sectors, visit Ramp Up Idaho.
And for general resources, articles and presentations related to housing access, cost and policy, see the Housing Toolbox for Western Policy Makers (Mostly Idaho).

2016 Fair Housing Month Calendar

Idaho Fair Housing Month Training Opportunities

Boise, ID April 5th and 6th (see below for additional dates and locations)

The Idaho Fair Housing Forum, U.S. Attorney’s Office, HUD and Intermountain Fair Housing Council are hosting a Fair Housing Celebration and Workshop focused on Basic Fair Housing topics on April 5, 2016, and April 6, 2016.

Featuring Idaho’s U.S. Attorney Wendy Olson and HUD’s Kristina Miller among others, the workshop will focus on the Fair Housing Act, Support Animals and Reasonable Accommodations, Addressing Hate Acts Under Federal Law and Fair Housing Compliance from a Housing Provider Attorney Perspective. The event is offered as either an on-site training at Boise City Hall or via webcast at the same time, registration links for both options are below. It will run from 8:00 AM to 4:15 PM Mountain.

Boise, April 5, 2016: Webcast

Boise, April 6, 2016: Webcast

For more information contact Brian Dale at HUD’s Idaho Field Office 208-334-1088 ext. 3005; or Zoe Ann Olson of the Intermountain Fair Housing Council at 208-383-0695 or .

Please contact us for any reasonable accommodation needed for the event.

Boise Training materials/presentations

Additional locations and training opportunities

The Idaho Fair Housing Forum and Intermountain Fair Housing Council are hosting additional events focused on Basic Fair Housing topics in the following locations in mid to late April:

April 18, 2016

Lewiston Presentation Materials

April 18, 2016

Moscow Presentation Materials

April 21, 2016: Coeur d’ Alene Workshop

April 26, 2016: Pocatello Workshop

For more information contact Brian Dale at HUD’s Idaho Field Office (208-334-1088 ext. 3005); or Zoe Ann Olson of the Intermountain Fair Housing Council at 208-383-0695 or .

Please contact us for any reasonable accommodation needed for the event.