Washington, DC – April 2, 2012 – (RealEstateRama) — As the leading advocate for homeownership and housing issues, the National Association of Realtors® will join the nation in honoring Fair Housing Month this April.
This year marks the 44th anniversary of the 1968 landmark Fair Housing Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status or handicap. NAR also supports equal opportunity on the basis of sexual orientation, incorporating that support into the Realtor® Code of Ethics.
“Realtors® embrace our country’s racial and ethnic diversity and strive every day to make the benefits of homeownership accessible to everyone,” said NAR President Moe Veissi, broker-owner of Veissi & Associates Inc., in Miami. “Anyone who is able and willing to assume the responsibilities of owning a home should have the opportunity to pursue that dream. Realtors® work tirelessly to uphold fair housing laws in their local communities and provide equal professional service to everyone.”
NAR’s Equal Opportunity and Cultural Diversity program offers Realtors® education, grants, programs and events related to fair housing and diversity. Various grants help Realtor® associations play leadership roles in their communities through three initiatives; diversity, smart growth and housing opportunity grants. These grants help associations and their members reach out to and better serve today’s diverse clientele.
NAR also offers several training courses for Realtors® and Realtor® associations. The At Home with Diversity® course addresses the topics of diversity, fair housing and business planning development in a full-day certification course. NAR’s Employer-Assisted Housing Class gives Realtors® tools to work with local employers, helping them implement employer-assisted housing benefits to help employees become home owners. Leading with Diversity is a workshop for local Realtor® associations that helps bring more diversity to the leadership of the Realtor® community. Other courses touch on affordable housing opportunities, as well as the benefits of smart growth communities and how to help communities adopt a smart growth strategy.
“NAR strongly encourages its members to work with their local municipalities or counties as they conduct fair housing planning activities,” said Veissi. “Realtors® live and work in their communities and are committed to implementing strategies to stop discriminatory behavior and promoting important issues such as inclusion, diversity and fairness in the housing market.”
The National Association of Realtors®, “The Voice for Real Estate,” is America’s largest trade association, representing 1 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.
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Information about NAR is available at www.realtor.org. This and other news releases are posted in the News Media section.
Contact:
Leanne Jernigan 202-383-1290
