Columbia County Fair Housing

TO ASSURE COMPLIANCE:

The Columbia County Board of Supervisors in keeping with its commitment to Fair Housing proclaims the month of April each year, as Fair Housing Month.
The FHO in accordance with the County's Fair Housing Plan reaffirms its dedication to Fair Housing each year by placing a classified ad in the local newspaper during Fair Housing Month. The ad contains language to stimulate awareness regarding housing discrimination and where to call if one feels they have fallen victim to any form of discrimination. The telephone numbers of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and that of the FHO are listed in the ad respectively (HUD) 800-669-9777, TTY 800-927-9275 (FHO) 518-828-0342.
HAB's community outreach programs place emphasis on ethnic diversity in Columbia County and in particularly, that which exist among the Hudson population. In an effort to reach the community, brochures detailing forms of discrimination on the basis of "Protected Characteristics" and "Tenants' Rights" are available in both English and Spanish. These brochures are distributed at all HAB sponsored event such as:
-The Annual Landlord's Tenant's Rights Forum
-The Annual Fair Housing Poster Contest
-and circulated at events sponsored by other organizations which the FHO or a HAB member is invited to attend. They are always available upon request or provided when deemed to be helpful in reinforcing an answer to a caller's specific housing question.
The FHO and HAB Chair Person issue press releases in advance of the events it sponsors and appears for local radio interviews designed to educate the local population of the Fair Housing Department's mission.
HAB and the FHO take great pride in making area students, at a young age, aware of the importance of Fair Housing and everyone's right to choose where they wish to live. The contest alternates each year between the themes of "Houses for Everyone" and "The People and Houses on My Street." This event not only impresses upon students the importance of Fair Housing for all, but gives them the opportunity to win awards and display their artistic talents. A ceremony for the winners concludes with a brief history lesson for the students, their family, teachers, and friends, of how Fair Housing has progressed from the time of the first Civil Rights Act in 1866, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Fair Housing Act of 1968, and the other housing laws enacted in the Country since, for the benefit and protection of its people.
The FHO keeps abreast of the promulgation and implementation of new laws and changes to existing laws which affect the duties of the Office of Fair Housing and more importantly how these changes may affect the rights of the individual tenant or home owner.

NYS SAFE HARBOR ACT:

This legislation passed on June 30, 2020 could save you from being evicted and allow you to stay in your apartment, even if you are unable to pay the back rent. To do this you must prove to a Judge in court that the non-payment of rent is due to a financial hardship attributed to the Corona Virus Pandemic and that it began on March 7, 2020 ( the ACT will not apply to rent due and owing prior to March 7) and that it will end when NYS pauses in its executive orders (no one knows when this may be.) Even if there was no loss of household income during the covered period, unavoidable COVID-19 expenses (i.e. medical, hospital, and funeral) may be considered to advance your case. If you are successful in convincing the judge and the court that you qualify under the ACT the Judge can issue a Non-Possesspry Judgment, which means that although you still owe the debt it is not tied to your right as tenant to remain in your apartment.

OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE

In all legal matters such as those noted above, Columbia County's Fair Housing Department strongly, recommends that County residents facing a housing crisis seek legal advice. If you do not have an attorney, seniors can call the Office of the Aging at 518-828-4258, others may call Legal Aid of Northeastern New York at 518-462-6765 and all those having Tenants' Rights issues or Housing Complaints can call the New York State Attorney General's Help Line at 1-800-771-7755 The County Fair Housing Department also stands ready to help at all times. For more information call William Fisher 518-828-0342 or email: wms123123@live.com

BAN ON EVICTIONS FOR NON-PAYMENT CAUSED BY THE CORONA VIRUS PANDEMIC

During this pandemic, also known as COVID-19, both the State and Federal Governments, recognizing the devastating financial impact this disease has had on so many, has issued executive orders banning evictions and foreclosures based on an individual's in ability to make monthly payments, resulting from unemployment or those experiencing financial hardship caused by the pandemic. These bans if not extended will expire on December 31, 2020 or at the latest January 1, 2021. It is important to realize that the rent or mortgage payments owed are not forgiven, but only deferred; and the inability to cure the arrears could result in legal action and the loss of your home. Before this occurs you should contact your landlord, lender, or mortgage servicer to arrange to pay something now and to establish a mutually agreeable plan to bring your payments current.

ATTENTION all tenants BEWARE of a landlord use of SELF HELP. A self help eviction or a self help attempt to evict occurs when a landlord uses tactics to retake possession of your apartment without following the applicable state laws which govern the eviction process. The landlord's use of self help (i.e. changing locks, discontinuing power or heat, harassment, retaliation etc.) to facilitate a tenant's vacating the property, to retake possession is illegal. Tenants should document occurrences of this nature and seek legal advice. These may be used as a defense against wrongful eviction.

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