The Arizona Fair Housing Partnership

AFHP Agreement

A Fair Housing Partnership Resolution

This Partnership shall consist of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP); Arizona Association of REALTORS® (AAR); Arizona Mortgage Lender’s Association; Arizona Department of Housing; Fannie Mae; Arizona Multihousing Association; City of Phoenix; Arizona State Office for Americans with Disabilities; Arizona Bridge to Independent Living (ABIL); Arizona Office for Americans with Disabilities; Community Association Institute; Greater Phoenix Urban League; Hispanic Association of Real Estate Professionals (HAREP); Phoenix Revitalization Corporation (PRC), Chicanos Por La Causa (CPLC); Community Legal Services; Arizona Attorney General’s Office; Arizona Fair Housing Center; Southwest Fair Housing Council; Neighborhood Housing Services; Community Development Coalition of Arizona; City of Flagstaff; Coconino County; Maricopa County; Work Groups by Design; (and OTHER PARTNERS as identified).

WHEREAS: Fairness is a cornerstone of the foundation of the American way of life and depicts the best of our traditional values.

WHEREAS: Fair housing is a major element of public policy and it is in our interest to promote and further fair housing in Arizona.

WHEREAS: The Federal and Arizona Fair Housing Acts and other laws guarantee a right to a housing market free from discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, and national origin.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that these organizations affirm their commitment and formulate a Partnership to promote fair housing in communities across our state.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Partnership is based on the following principles;
All participants in our state's housing market share a responsibility for the achievement of fair housing.
The Partners to this resolution will, on an ongoing basis, jointly identify fair housing issues and concerns which need be addressed.
The Partnership will develop measurable strategies and actions to address identified issues and concerns.
The Partnership will evaluate the results of the actions taken to determine future strategies and actions.
All housing professionals affiliated with each partner are encouraged to adopt a fair housing declaration outlining their commitment to fair housing.

Articles of Partnership

ARTICLE I

Scope of the Partnership: The Partnership consists of the Partners listed above. The Partnership will consist of organizations with a statewide focus, (or regional, if not a part of a statewide organization) as Partners. However, the Partnership will, on occasion, invite other organizations in the housing community which have an interest in fair housing to participate in the activities of the Partnership. The Partnership shall be in effect indefinitely or until dissolved by the Partners.

ARTICLE II

Identification of fair housing issues and concerns: The Partners will meet periodically to identify fair housing issues and concerns which can and should be addressed by the Partners. Each Partner, as well as other invited participants, will have an opportunity to present fair housing issues and concerns important to its members or constituents at these meetings. The Partners will determine which issues and concerns will be addressed.

ARTICLE III

Development of strategies and actions to address fair housing issues and concerns: The Partners will jointly identify and develop strategies and actions designed to address specific fair housing issues and concerns selected by the Partners. The strategies and actions will be collaborative; designed to involve the widest spectrum of the housing community; and intended to produce measurable results. The Partners shall endeavor to set timeframes for each strategy and action. Partnership issues, strategies, and actions are set out as an appendix to this resolution. The appendix will be revised and supplemented from time-to-time to reflect future direction.

ARTICLE IV

Fair Housing Declaration: The Partners have developed a fair housing declaration for suggested use by all housing professionals affiliated with Partner organizations. The declaration is included in the appendix to this resolution. The declaration outlines a series of affirmative fair housing principles which housing professionals or providers are encouraged to incorporate into the day-to-day business operations of their organizations. Each professional or provider is encouraged to publicly display this commitment in their marketing efforts.

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Appendix I
to the Arizona Fair Housing Partnership Resolution

The Partners will, on an ongoing basis, identify fair housing issues and concerns; and will develop measurable strategies and actions to address identified issues and concerns. This appendix sets forth specific issues and actions that will be implemented through this Partnership.

The Partners will then assess the results of the actions taken to determine future strategies and actions and to provide the public with information concerning the activities of the Partnership. If necessary, this appendix periodically will be revised and supplemented to reflect future direction.

The Partners have developed strategies and actions to address the following fair housing issues:

ISSUE 1: There is a need to provide information to the general public concerning fair housing laws, rights, responsibilities and problem solving opportunities.

Strategy: The Partnership will promote the dissemination of fair housing information.

Action: 1. The Partners will collaborate on the publication and distribution of a fair housing brochure and poster which can be used by housing professionals or providers affiliated with the Partners to promote fair housing to the public. The brochure and poster will be revised and printed and will be reprinted as necessary.

Action: 2. The Partners will collaborate on the development and distribution of Public Service Announcements (PSAs) to promote fair housing to the public.

Action: 3. The Partnership will include fair housing promotion to homeseekers at the annual Arizona Homeownership Fair with which many of the Partners are actively involved.

Action: 4. Partners should be prepared to refer potential or real victims to approprite fair housing agencies if the situation arises.

ISSUE 2: Housing professionals need up-to-date information, training and tools to incorporate their fair housing commitment into their day-to-day real estate activities.

Strategy: The Partnership will collect, from a variety of sources, up-to-date information on fair housing issues and discriminatory practices.

Action: The Partners will identify those fair housing issues and discriminatory practices that should be addressed in the education of housing professionals and will offer at least two educational programs each year.

ISSUE 3: The achievement of a housing market free from discrimination requires the involvement of people and organizations in addition to that of the Partners.

Strategy: The Partners will each promote the Partnership approach to achieving fair housing to other organizations representing the housing industry and community groups across Arizona.

Action: The Partners will invite organizations with an interest in fair housing to participate in Partnership efforts as outlined in this appendix. Other organizations with an interest in fair housing include, but are not limited to, private fair housing organizations, state and local government agencies, other housing industry groups, civil rights organizations, and community organizations


Fair Housing Declaration
I agree to:

A. Provide equal professional service without regard to the race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, or national origin of any prospective client, customer, or of the residents of any community.

B. Keep informed about fair housing law and practices, improving all homeseekers’ opportunities and my business.

C. Develop advertising that indicates that everyone is welcome and no one is excluded; expanding my client's and customer's opportunities to see, buy, or lease property.

D. Inform homeseekers, renters and homeowners about their rights and responsibilities under the fair housing laws.

E. Refuse to tolerate non-compliance with fair housing and/or disability laws.

F. Develop and implement fair housing practices for organizations to carry out the spirit of this declaration.

G. Take a positive approach to fair housing practices and aspire to follow the spirit as well as the letter of the law.