COLUMBUS – April 2, 2014 – (RealEstateRama) — The Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) proudly joins the nation in observing April as Fair Housing Month. OHFA’s celebration, “Justice for All,” marks the 46th anniversary of the act, which provides equal access to affordable housing for all regardless of race, color, nationality, familial and military status, disability or ancestry.
“OHFA has advocated for the advancement of equal access to housing for all Ohio homebuyers and renters for more than 30 years,” said OHFA Executive Director Doug Garver. “As the nation and State of Ohio celebrate Fair Housing Month, it is important to not only recognize the great strides made in eradicating housing discrimination, we must also continue educating Ohioans on their rights.”
The Fair Housing Act applies to housing and housing-related activities, including apartment and home rentals, real estate sales, mortgage lending and homeowners insurance. According to the National Fair Housing Alliance, it is estimated that there are four million fair housing violations every year. Despite this, most violations are not reported by renters and homebuyers because they do not know which activities are considered unlawful discrimination under the Fair Housing Act or they fear retaliation.
As the state’s affordable housing leader, OHFA ensures that every Ohioan is given the opportunity to obtain safe, decent and affordable housing through a variety of programs. Through its First-Time Homebuyer program, the Agency offers stable financing options for Ohioans with low- to moderate-incomes. In addition, the Agency has helped to finance more than 100,000 units of affordable rental housing across the state.
For more information on OHFA and its programs, visit www.ohiohome.org or call 888.362.6432. For more information on the Fair Housing Act, visit http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp.
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About the Ohio Housing Finance Agency
OHFA is a self-supporting quasi-public agency governed by an eleven member board. The Agency uses federal and state resources to provide housing opportunities for families and individuals through programs designed to develop, preserve and sustain affordable housing throughout the state of Ohio. OHFA is also the administrator of the state’s foreclosure prevention program, Save the Dream Ohio.
Media Contact: Arlyne Alston
Email: aalston (at) ohiohome (dot) org
Phone: 614.387.2863
