 Housing Market Analysis: |
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Housing Market Analysis: |
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III F. HOUSING DISCRIMINATION
The City of Iowa City has been working to address issues of housing and other types of discrimination for many years. Iowa City is often considered a leader in this arena. The most recent accomplishment is HUD’s pending recognition of Iowa City’s Human Rights Ordinance as being "substantially equivalent". With this designation the City may start investigating and litigating cases of discrimination. This should enable a more timely and effective process.
In FY99 there were forty (40) formal discrimination complaints filed. Of these only three, or 7.5%, were housing related. Both the Human Rights office and Iowa City Housing Authority provide landlord and tenant education and outreach.
The following actions were undertaken by the City of Iowa City, in the City’s fiscal year 1999 (July 1, 1998 to June 30, 1999), to affirmatively further fair housing. Also, please see the Human Rights Commission’s Annual Report in Appendix 5. This report gives very specific accomplishments for the program year.
ACTIONS TAKEN TO AFFIRMATIVELY FURTHER FAIR HOUSING
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Actions Taken |
Results |
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Outreach through weekly advertisements in local newspapers regarding fair housing discrimination |
Phone calls and walk-in inquiries |
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Regular monitoring by Human Rights Coordinator for illegal advertisements |
Advertisers who placed the illegal ads are contacted by the Human Rights Commission and provided educational materials |
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Public Service Announcements on Housing Discrimination are shown on the local cable TV (government channel – 29) |
Education and outreach - Get informal and formal complaints |
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Pamphlets and posters on the fair housing discrimination laws are disseminated to community organizations and are displayed at the University, Civic Center, Library and City buses. |
Increased public awareness of housing discrimination |
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Educational video (Fair Housing Law) is made available to the community |
Increased public knowledge of Fair Housing Laws |
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Referrals of housing discrimination complaints outside Iowa City’s jurisdiction were made to HUD and the Iowa Civil Rights Commission |
Interagency cooperation |
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Revising Human Rights Ordinance to become substantially equivalent |
HUD has, again, requested revisions to the Ordinance |
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Analysis of Fair Housing Practices and Impediments was updated |
Update of document addressed deficiencies in the existing AI |
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Discrimination Complaints were received by the Human Right Coordinator |
Complaints were addresses as necessary (see Human Rights Commission Annual Report) |
Analysis of Fair Housing Practices and Impediments
Iowa City has updated its Analysis of Fair Housing Practices and Impediments (AI) every two-three years. Staff from the Human Rights Office and the Community Development Division reviewed and completed the Self-Review Form in the fall of 1997. Upon completion of this evaluation, several areas of the existing Analysis of Fair Housing Practices and Impediments (AI) were found to be deficient. Because of these findings an update of the AI was planned. In January 1998 the Community Development Division, with the assistance of the Human Rights Office, began an update of the City’s AI. This AI update was completed, reviewed and approved by the Human Rights Commission in February 1998.
Impediments to Fair Housing Choice
As identified in the AI, the following are impediments to fair housing choice (in no order of priority).
Actions Taken to Overcome Impediments
The City has undertaken numerous actions, by the Planning & Community Development Department, the Iowa City Housing Authority and the Human Rights Office to identify, address and resolve impediments to fair housing. Many of these actions were described in the table above. In addition, CDBG and HOME funds were allocated to housing projects that address some of the impediments outlined above. An example of these projects include the Iowa City Housing Authority’s Tenant to Owner Program (TOP) and Affordable Dream Home Ownership Program (ADHOP).
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