For Immediate Release:

April 11, 2013   

National Fair Housing Month is recognized

Freeholders salute fair housing advocates

“For more than 40 years the County of Monmouth has been committed to ensuring fair housing choices for our residents,” said Lillian G. Burry, liaison to the County Planning Board. “The Fair Housing Office has worked tirelessly to eliminate discrimination in housing based on race, color, national origin, religion or disability.”

Since 1969, the month of April has been designated as National Fair Housing Month throughout our nation, and during that time the Monmouth County Fair Housing Board has provided community education of fair housing issues, and encouraged activities that address fair housing rights.

The Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders created the Fair Housing Board and charged it with the responsibility of making policy recommendations to the Freeholder Board, encouraging equal housing opportunities, and providing assistance, support and information to anyone pursuing the rights allowed by law related to fair housing.

The Federal Fair Housing Act governs housing discrimination and includes seven protected classes: race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability and familial status. New Jersey is one of several states that also includes sexual orientation as a protected class.

The county’s Fair Housing Office is a division of the Monmouth County Planning Board that works to educate residents about diversity and eradicate discrimination in housing.

The Monmouth County Fair Housing Board’s meetings are held the third Thursday of the month at 2 p.m.from January through October in the Hall of Records Annex, 2^nd floor Planning Board Conference Room. Public participation is welcome.

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