2010 JACKSONVILLE FAIR HOUSING AWARENESS SYMPOSIUM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Ben Pennymon, (904) 630-3426, benp@coj.net

JACKSONVILLE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION HOSTS
2010 FAIR HOUSING AWARENESS SYMPOSIUM

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., April 13, 2010 – The City of Jacksonville’s Human Rights Commission will host the eighth annual Fair Housing Awareness Symposium on Saturday, April 24. The event will include workshops with speakers providing information on a variety of topics related to housing as well as a vendor exhibition designed to align attendees with resources to aid them in exercising their housing rights.

WHEN: Saturday, April 24
8-9 a.m. Registration and welcome session
9-11:45 a.m. Vendor exhibition/workshops
Noon-2 p.m. Awards luncheon

WHERE: Crowne Plaza Riverfront Hotel
1201 Riverplace Blvd.

This free event offers an opportunity for Jacksonville residents to learn practical information about acquiring and keeping a home, predatory lending, credit, fair housing and disability rights, and other housing related topics.

These topic areas will be covered during informational workshops. Some of the workshops include First-time Homebuyers; Fair Housing and Disability Rights; Real Estate is the Value Real; Facing the Worst: Strategies, Alternatives and Options; Fair Housing vs. Landlord Tenant Disputes: Knowing the Difference; Predatory Lending; and more.

Local housing assistance organizations will also be on-hand at a vendor exhibition providing fair housing information. Participating organizations include Advocacy Center for Person’s with Disabilities, Association of Housing Counselors and Agencies, City of Jacksonville Disabled Services, Family Foundations, Grace and Truth Community Development Corporation, Three Rivers Legal Services, Home Depot, Sunshine State Health Plan and other local community-based organizations and housing partners.

In addition, awards will be given at the luncheon to individuals and organizations for their work on, and dedication to fair housing. Award recipients include:
Accessible Housing Award, Northwest Jacksonville Community Development Corporation
Good Neighbor Award, Ronald Johnson
Seniors’ Choice Award, Eula Mayes
Faith Based Award, Grace and Truth CDC
Best Practices Award, The Cathedral Foundation of Jacksonville
Communication Award, GrapeVine Newspaper

The 2010 Fair Housing Awareness Symposium is free and open to the public; however, registration is required. To register, call (904) 630-1212 x3020 or e-mail JHRCRSVP@coj.net.

This event is made possible through a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) acquired by the City of Jacksonville Housing and Neighborhoods Department, Jacksonville Human Rights Commission and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

###