To the editor;
By way of formal proclamation Columbia County joins with our nation each year to commemorate April as Fair Housing Month. Signed into law on April 11, 1968 by President Lyndon B. Johnson, the Fair Housing Act is designed to protect tenants and home buyers from housing discrimination based on Race, Color, National Origin, Religion, Sex, Disability and Familial Status (families with children under the age of 18). The Act guarantees and protects all, giving them the right to choose where they live.
The Columbia Country Board of Supervisors appoints a Fair Housing Officer to assure compliance with this federal act and New York State housing law. In addition to the above federally protected classes, the Act provides protections based on Marital Status, Military Status, Sexual Orientation, and Gender Identity. The Fair Housing Officer is assisted by a diverse volunteer Housing Advisory Board (HAB) which has a broad understanding of the County’s demographics and the needs of its people, and who are fully committed to its mission.
The HAB reaches out to community residents in a number of ways. Each March, we use our annual Landlord/Tenants Rights Forum and separate WGXC Radio broadcast as pathways into Fair Housing Month. Our annual Poster Contest, open to all third and fourth grade students, which is held in April caps off these activities that promote fair housing awareness. Like so many other organizations impacted by the COVID-19 public health and safety guidelines, we have had to postpone or cancel these very important activities.
In light of the many changes brought about by New York State’s recent enactment of the Housing Stability and Tenants’ Protection Act of 2019, it is the HAB’s sincere hope that the Landlord/Tenants Rights Forum can be rescheduled at a time when the precautionary restrictions now recommended by County, State and Federal authorities can be safely lifted. The Advisory Board strongly believes that it is important for the community be made aware of these new changes. Please look for more to come in this regard.
In keeping with its mission, the Fair Housing Officer of Columbia County welcomes all phone calls from those seeking additional information about fair housing or who feel they have been or are being unfairly treated. All callers will be advised of their rights under the law and, when necessary, may be referred to the applicable agency or agencies that can address their particular housing issues. For more information, pcall 518-828-0342.
William Fisher, Columbia County Fair Housing Officer
Theresa Mayhew, Columbia County Housing Advisory Board Chair