April marks Fair Housing Month

April is Fair Housing Month in the United States and Spokane will host a Fair Housing Conference to explore the many facets of the Fair Housing Act from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Thursday, April 28 at Mukogawa Fort Wright Institute.

The featured speaker will be Fred Rivera, a partner in the Seattle-based law firm Perkins Coie where he specializes in civil litigation, equal housing and employment opportunity. He was a senior trial attorney in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice where he handled fair housing and fair lending litigation.

A panel discussion on the “Application of Fair Housing Laws in Rental Housing” will feature Judith Keeler, director, Seattle office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity; Judith Gilmore, executive director, Northwest Housing Alliance; Sharon Ortiz, operations manager for the Washington State Human Rights Commission; and attorney Eric Steven.

Sponsors are the City of Spokane Community Development Department; Inland Empire Rental Association; Spokane office of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; Spokane Housing Authority; and Spokane County Housing and Community Development Department.

There is a $20 registration fee. For information, call the Inland Empire Rental Association at (509) 625-6325.