Community Development Block Grant
Furthering Fair Housing in Independence, MO
All residents should have access to affordable quality housing, whether they own or rent, regardless of race or color, family status, sex, religion, disability or national origin.
That's the vision, but how can we make it a reality? The City of Independence is committed to Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing.
Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing means taking meaningful actions to address significant disparities in housing needs and access to opportunity, replacing segregated living patterns with truly integrated and balanced living patterns, transforming racially and ethnically concentrated areas of poverty into areas of opportunity, and fostering and maintaining compliance with civil rights and fair housing laws.
Data and Analysis
MARC has worked with the City to gather data, analyze and present required plan elements:
- Patterns of segregation and integration trends and contributing factors.
- Racially or ethnically concentrated areas of poverty.
- Disparities in access to opportunity in education, employment, transportation, poverty exposure and environmental health.
- Disproportionate housing needs, including cost burdens and substandard housing.
- Publicly supported housing.
- Access for persons with disabilities.
Fair Housing: It's Your Right!
The Fair Housing Act of 1968 prohibits discrimination in housing because of:
- Race or Color
- Sex
- National Origin
- Family Status
- Religion
- Disability
The Fair Housing Act prohibits discriminatory practices based upon race or color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status or disability in the sale of housing, rental of housing, and mortgage lending.
The Fair Housing Act covers most housing. In some circumstances the Act exempts owner-occupied buildings with no more than four units, single-family housing sold or rented without the use of a broker, and housing operated by organizations and private clubs that limit occupancy to members.
Additional Fair Housing Information
- Fair Housing - General Information
- Filing a complaint with HUD
- State of Missouri Commission on Human Rights - Fair Housing Consumer Guide
- Equidad de vivienda - Información general
- HUD Affordable Housing Search
- Fair Housing Accessiblity First Initiative
- Facing Foreclosure? Possible help from www.995hope.org
- View an informational video
- Discrimination: Report It, Don’t Ignore It Radio Show
Facing Mortgage Foreclosure? There are options! Visit a local group's website dedicated to providing Foreclosure Prevention information and services at: www.kcforeclosurehelp.org
Don't be a victim of Foreclosure Rescue Scams! Important information is available from the FDIC at: www.fdic.gov/foreclosureprevention Download their brochure.