Congratulations to the 2024 Fair Housing Poster Contest Award Winners!

Students from three school districts in Columbia County submitted artwork for the Annual Fair Housing Poster Contest Awards Reception held on April 24, 2024 at the American Legion Post 184 Stockport. This year's winners included:

1st Place: Natalie Hull and Robert Lennihan
2nd Place: Aubrey Daley and Hailey Rock
3rd Place: Mckenzie Blank and Wylie Burstall
Honorable Mention: Maddison Grace McKellar, Aldona Raugalis and Gavin Russell

The event is sponsored annually by the Columbia County Housing Advisory Board (HAB) 

FH poster winners.pdf
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April is Fair Housing Month!

4.11.24

Re: Reporting Discriminatory Housing Practices:

Each year by way of Formal Proclamation, Columbia County reaffirms its commitment to Fair Housing and joins Our Nation in commemorating the month of April as Fair Housing Month.

 Signed into Federal Law on April 11,1968, by then President Lyndon B. Johnson, the Fair Housing Act is designed to protect tenants, prospective home buyers and home owners from housing discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, and familial status (families with children under the age of 18). It guarantees to all, the right to live where they choose so long as it is affordable to them.

New York State Housing Law expands the above protected classes to include the following: age, marital status, military status, pregnancy-related condition, favorably-resolved arrest record, conviction record, sexual orientation, gender identity, and predisposing genetic characteristics.

 

Anyone who feels they may have experienced or may be experiencing discrimination based on one or more of the above Protected Classes, Traits, or Characteristics should call the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) at 1-800-669-9777 (TTY: 1-800-927-9275)

or the New York State Division of Human Rights at: 1-888-392-3644
 (TTY: 1-718-741-8300) For more information please contact:

Latest Update from Fair Housing Officer, William Fisher

The Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP): January 20, 2023, was the cut off date for applications, however as of this date, tenants/landlords deemed eligible are still being funded and past due utilities are being paid.

Based on this encouraging news Columbia County's Fair Housing Department urges tenants and landlords to call the Emergency Rental Assistance Call Center at 1-844-691-7368. If you have already applied you should check the status of your application. If you have not yet applied you should call 1-844-691- 7368 to determine eligibility and if you meet the criteria make application as soon as possible. William Fisher, Fair Housing Officer Columbia County at 518-828-0342.