Florida Senate - 2011                            (NP)    SR 2164
       
       
       
       By Senator Joyner
       
       
       
       
       18-03552-11                                           20112164__
    1                          Senate Resolution                        
    2         A resolution recognizing April 2011 as “Fair Housing
    3         Month” in Florida.
    4  
    5         WHEREAS, Title VIII of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1968
    6  and the federal Fair Housing Act of 1988 prohibit discrimination
    7  based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin,
    8  disability, or familial status in the sale, rental, and
    9  financing of dwellings, and
   10         WHEREAS, in 1983, the Florida Legislature enacted the
   11  Florida Fair Housing Act to ensure that discrimination in the
   12  sale or rental of any dwelling because of race, color, national
   13  origin, sex, or religion be prohibited, and subsequently amended
   14  the Act in 1988 to include handicap and familial status, and
   15         WHEREAS, the United States Department of Housing and Urban
   16  Development has proclaimed April as “National Fair Housing
   17  Month,” launching awareness campaigns to commemorate the
   18  historic passage of this major legislation, increasing the
   19  public’s understanding of the act’s many protections, and asking
   20  communities to remember the past and celebrate 43 years of
   21  housing successes to ensure justice and housing opportunities
   22  for all, and
   23         WHEREAS, according to a recent report from the federal Fair
   24  Housing Administration, Florida continues to experience a
   25  catastrophic rate of home foreclosures, and, as of February
   26  2011, had the highest foreclosure rate in the nation, due in
   27  part to predatory lending practices from 2004 through 2006, and
   28         WHEREAS, at the height of this lending spree, Florida’s
   29  ethnic and racial minorities accounted for more than half of all
   30  subprime mortgage loans, which means that ethnic and racial
   31  minorities are losing their homes at much higher rates than
   32  other Floridians, and
   33         WHEREAS, the Florida Commission on Human Relations conducts
   34  thorough and timely investigations of housing discrimination
   35  complaints and, as a result of its investigative efforts, has
   36  found that housing discrimination continues to exist in this
   37  state, with disability, race, national origin, and familial
   38  status constituting the top four areas of housing discrimination
   39  cases closed in the 2009-2010 fiscal year, and
   40         WHEREAS, given the current housing crisis, the Florida
   41  Commission on Human Relations is working harder than ever to
   42  expand its outreach and educational efforts to ensure that
   43  members of the housing industry are informed of fair housing
   44  laws and their responsibilities, and to increase community
   45  partnerships to ensure that Floridians are treated fairly and
   46  are provided equal access to adequate and affordable housing
   47  without discrimination, prejudice, or barriers, NOW, THEREFORE,
   48  
   49  Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
   50  
   51         That April 2011 is recognized as “Fair Housing Month” in
   52  Florida.
   53         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Florida Senate calls upon
   54  state and local governmental leaders, communities within the
   55  state, and all Floridians to observe Fair Housing Month through
   56  ceremonies and activities that celebrate past and future efforts
   57  to ensure fair and equal access to housing for all people in
   58  this state.