Establishing and Operating a Comprehensive Fair Housing Enforcement Program. A Guide to the Investigation and Trial of Housing Discrimination Cases. Descriptive Manual

摘要

This manual is a step - by - step guide to the establishment of a community fair housing program to serve the interests of minority persons who experience discriminatory housing practices. Community groups must establish such organizations to supplement HUD regional offices, which are insufficient in number and staff to handle individual cases arising every day and requiring immediate investigation. The manual identifies types of groups suited to organize fair housing enforcement programs (local government representatives, human relations committees, churches, consumer advocate groups, universities, the local Bar, etc.); outlines nonprofit incorporation matters; and makes suggestions for deciding on target areas, telephone codes, and publicity approaches. Public announcements are especially important to prompt immediate client response. To deal with complaints of suspected discrimination, investigators must serve the interests of all races and be recruited from all parts of the area; they must be trained to rule out all factors except race, religion, or sex as the reason for the caller's rejection. If the investigation indicates illegal discrimination, the case is referred to an attorney; using volunteer attorneys with interests in civil rights issues is recommended. Funding sources and methods of obtaining funding are discussed, and it is urged that groups beginning their organizational effort in fair housing enforcement enlist the services of a consulting attorney. Various aspects of an operational organization are detailed, including case intake, staff training and recruitment, the assignment of appropriate investigators to specific cases, investigative procedures, and attorney selection and preparation for involvement with fair housing cases. An outline for presentation of a case in court is included, with emphasis on witness testimony and examination of managers and owners at trial. The organization's recordkeeping is also explained. Tables and charts are provided.