Investment in Fair Housing Testing Program Will Increase Investigations into Housing Discrimination and Enhance Education and Outreach Efforts on Fair Housing Rights. As Evidence Manager, Robs duties include supporting the Investigative Coordinators, preserving and transferring evidence, and maintaining testing equipment. Josh is a Senior Staff Attorney at Fair Share Housing Center. Before that, she held Program Director roles at Disability Rights New York, where she supervised teams that protected and advocated for the legal rights of people with disabilities. In contrast, Eastchester is not very diverse so a residency preference there would effectively reduce access by African American and Latinx potential applicants.". He is the Co-Founder of Open Communities LLC, a racial integration consultant firm that works to resolve simple and complex conflicts of race, ethnicity and socio- economics. Erin Boggs, Executive Director of Open Communities Alliance, Bryan Greene, Director of Fair Housing Policy for the National Association of Realtors and Fred Freiberg, Executive Director of Fair Housing Justice Center will be our guest speakers. Rob worked as a tester with FHJCs Acting for Justice program from 2008 to 2020 before joining the staff in his current position. "It's been an arduous process to end many years of discrimination against people with mobility . At the time, his work included working as a housing counselor to help homeowners avoid foreclosure, and designing and leading the citys programs focused on temporary housing and disaster lawyering. | 212.400.8201, Home | Defendants discriminatory conduct violated multiple state, federal, and local statutes, and we were glad to be able help the clients attain a measure of justice and vindicate their rights, stated attorney Zack Zaharoff,who along with attorneys Blake Denton, Angela Dunay, Faust Petkovich, and Scott Kanchuger represented the plaintiffs. So far, the county has spent more than $70 million to comply. 2d. Even more so, it enables Long Islanders move toward a home that we all strive for where our neighbors can choose to live wherever they want free of discrimination. Her association with the FHJC began when she and her husband contacted the organization after facing suspected racial discrimination in Brooklyn. In her role as an Investigative Coordinator, Andrea designs and leads housing discrimination investigations and performs systemic research. When prospective renters call Finders NYC, they are instructed to submit additional information via text to be pre-qualified. On disclosing their voucher, most prospective renters receive the same response: To our knowledge, all of our landlords work with vouchers & programs. Strengthen enforcement fair housing laws; The Fair Housing Justice Center, Inc. (FHJC) is a regional fair housing organization based in New York City. I try to never forget the legacy of civil rights giants who created a space for me to exist. Prior to joining the FHJC in 2022, she worked at the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland and for an immigration law firm in New Jersey. (Clockwise from upper left: Anne Nacinovich, Rev. During her free time, Gabrielle enjoys writing and performing spoken word poetry. Mr. Freiberg is one the nation's leading experts on the use of undercover testing as an investigative tool to [] In response to the wave of complaints all against the same company, FHJC launched an investigation into Finders business practices. New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said, Housing is an essential human right and we must continue to use every tool at our disposal to ensure that all New Yorkers have a fair and equal opportunity to live in the communities of their choice. It was a long fight, said Fred Frieberg, executive director of the Fair Housing Justice Center. PHILADELPHIA Mayor Jim Kenney today announced that Rue Landau, Executive Director of the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations (PCHR) and Fair Housing Commission (FHC), will leave City government effective Friday, December 18, 2020. Marc Jahr Senior Advisor, Forsyth Street Advisors. The NC Justice Center works through seven projects that provide in-depth expertise in the major policy areas impacting poor and working North Carolinians: Consumer, Housing & Energy Project, Education & Law Project, Fair Chance Criminal Justice Project, Health Advocacy Project, Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project, NC Policy Watch, and . Fair Share Housing Center is a nonprofit advocacy organization that uses legal, policy, and community-building strategies to fight for housing justice in New Jersey and beyond. Shayes fair housing career began in 2013 in Ohio at the Fair Housing Contact Service in Akron where she worked as the FHIP PEI Program Manager. His fellowship through the Rutgers University School of Law focused on redevelopment and affordable housing. What I didnt know back then was how much of an impact FSHC was having on a national scale, translating its knowledge and experience at the state level to work on housing justice across the country.. He joined the FHJC in 2022. Meet Fred Freiberg, the Executive Director of the Fair Housing Justice Center (FHJC), a nonprofit civil rights organization dedicated to eliminating housing discrimination, promoting policies that foster inclusive communities, and strengthening enforcement of fair housing laws. and M.S. As National Projects and Investigations Coordinator, Shaye works closely with the National Field Consultant to oversee investigations and training programs across the country, with a special emphasis on lender testing. Dr. Wilson Barnes is Associate Dean of Student Affairs at CUNY School of Law, and has been deeply involved with the FHJC since it was created in 2004 as part of HELPUSA. They alleged that Redfin's minimum home price policy violated the federal Fair Housing Act by discriminating against sellers and buyers of homes in communities . She joined the organization in 2021 and works to further our goals on affordable housing advocacy, disaster recovery and climate resilience, and Mount Laurel enforcement. The Fair Housing Justice Center (FHJC) is a nonprofit civil rights organization that serves all five boroughs of New York City and seven surrounding New York counties. The program also provides continuity to the, Eliminating Barriers to Housing New York testing and outreach program. She also conducts targeted outreach and oversees FHJCs F.A.S.T. He has litigated at the New Jersey Supreme Court and Appellate Division and worked on state and federal policy issues including very-low-income housing in high opportunity communities, Low Income Housing Tax Credit . Senior Staff Attorneyjoshuabauers@fairsharehousing.org, FSHCs work is so inspiring because each time new affordable homes are built, and families get to move in, we get to see real world examples of our efforts to make New Jersey fairer.. Before that, Frank spent six years working in Arts Administration in fundraising, development, marketing, and production for various performing arts centers in the New York metropolitan area. Gabrielle Vera, Investigative Coordinator (she/her) She obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree from Denison University, where she double majored in Black studies and Womens and Gender studies. from Temple University in Religion. News. Our Work | 488 followers. The case was brought by housing rights advocates who alleged that the town of Eastchesters residency preferences for senior housing discriminated against racial minorities. He began working with the FHJC in 2017 as Office Manager before assuming his current role in 2019. Working in the nonprofit space has inspired her passion for service and social equality. FHJCs assistance in this case was supported with funding from a Private Enforcement Initiative (PEI) grant received from theFair Housing Initiatives Program(FHIP) administered by theU.S.Department of Housing and Urban Development(HUD). Even more so, it enables Long Islanders move toward a home that we all strive for where our neighbors can choose to live wherever they want free of discrimination. She returned to the FHJC in her current role in 2022 after previously working for the organization as an Investigative Coordinator and Senior Investigative Coordinator from 2016 2019. Scout Field: Will Eastchester ever get to runsoccer field promised by Westchester? | 212.400.8201, Home | Ms. Nacinovich is an attorney at a non-prot, representing poor Bronx residents in a wide range of civil matters. Today, the Fair Housing Justice Center (FHJC) announced a new state court lawsuit against three licensed real estate agents working with the online real estate company Finders NYC and the real estate company itself. from Yale University. The State of New York does not imply approval of the listed destinations, warrant the accuracy of any information set out in those destinations, or endorse any opinions expressed therein. 302 He has extensive experience in affordable housing litigation having represented FSHC in hundreds of cases. Andrea has a masters in public administration from Baruch College and a Bachelor of Science degree from Illinois State University. The new state regulations, announced on February 22 . FHJC's mission is to . from Dartmouth College. Our Work | As Legal Coordinator, Madhulikas duties include managing the FHJCs legal docket and coordinating with the FHJCs cooperating attorneys, including non-profit partners and law firms. Evan Dash, Investigative Coordinator (he/him) Staff of Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana Amy Nelson, Executive Director. The program also provides continuity to the Eliminating Barriers to Housing New York testing and outreach program launched by the New York Office of the Attorney General in partnership with Enterprise Community Partners. More information on Fair Housing can be found on HCRs website: hcr.ny.gov/feho. With this funding, we will be able to conduct more fair housing testing and outreach to our region and beyond. . Most recently, he served as the Director of Development at Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow, helping out-of-school and out-of-work young adults to access education and employment. Paola is also a certified Occupancy Specialist for LIHTC Compliance. Her education nurtured her passion for social justice and led her into the world of legal non-profits. The policy . The settlement provides $230,000 for plaintiffs' damages, attorney's fees and costs and requires substantial changes to the rental operations at the apartment complex, located off Jericho Turnpike at 11 Mayfair Garden, Commack, New York. . We look forward to continuing partnership with New York State Homes and Community Renewal to eliminate discrimination in housing.. She joined the organization in 2010. Testing remains a critical tool for fair housing organizations to use in the fight against discrimination, and we look forward to conducting robust investigations throughout the New York City region. She has been a fierce housing advocate her whole career. Dr.Yvette D. Wilson-Barnes, Treasurer Ramsey Chamie, and Secretary Michelle Sullivan-Brady were elected to two-year terms at the most recent meeting of the FHJC Board of Directors.