Fair Housing Accessibility FIRST

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Reprint of a Feb. 01, 2003 promotional feature of the
Las Vegas Review-Journal and Las Vegas SUN

COLUMN: Carmel Hopkins

The term "fair housing" once ran shivers down my back. The whole concept seemed so arcane and it seemed as though every time I had a question, I received five answers from five different people.

After writing a column that I hoped would let the public know about a free seminar held in conjunction with the International Builders Show, I received tons of feedback -- all from people who have an ax to grind with the federal government and the entire concept of fair housing.

Please don't call to tell me about your challenges with the federal government. There's nothing I can do to alleviate your angst. I suggest you get a good lawyer and let the legal system work through the problem.

Anyway, the Department of Housing and Urban Development seized the opportunity to present itself to the more than 90,000 people who attended the IBS. Jumping on the bandwagon was the National Association of Home Builders, which promotes fair housing and insists its members are educated with the nuances of that legislation.

HUD has an arm called Fair Housing Accessibility FIRST, which gives instruction on the issues and offers resources, support and technical guidance for builders and other interested parties. The program began with a question-and-answer session that allowed people to let off steam about some of the problems they have encountered dealing with bureaucrats. One man stormed out in a huff.

Then, the people with Accessibility FIRST put on the single best seminar it has been my pleasure to attend. Usually when I walk out of a seminar, I think, "Well, that was a colossal waste of time." Not this one. The whole concept was presented by bright, articulate people who didn't talk federalese; their talks were accompanied by printed material that reinforced their topics.

Basically, "the Fair Housing Act establishes seven design and construction requirements for all covered, multifamily dwellings. Covered, multifamily dwellings are buildings with four or more units built for first occupancy after March 13, 1991. In most cases, multistory townhouses are not covered by the design and construction requirements," according to one handlout.

The seven requirements are:

--Accessible entrance on an accessible route;

--Accessible public and common-use areas;

--Usable doors (wide enough for wheelchairs, walkers);

--Accessible route into and through the dwelling unit;

--Accessible light switches, electrical outlets, thermostats and environmental controls;

--Reinforced walls in bathrooms (for installation of grab bars);

--Usable kitchens and bathrooms (maneuvering room for a person in a wheelchair or using a walker).

After that, as they say in the Talmud, all the rest is commentary.

I walked out of the seminar an enlightened person. The very next day, I attended a luncheon put on by CHRB, which stands for Community Housing Resources Board, a volunteer group of officers and members that advocate the concepts and principles of fair housing.

CHRB's main function is to promote community awareness about fair housing. That means housing opportunities are free from discrimination based on race or color; sex; familial status including children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodian, pregnant women and people securing custody of children under 18; or people who have a disability.

Whenever I think of CHRB, I think of the word cherub, because these folks are the guardian angels of people who need champions. Congratulations to the members of CHRB, you cherubs of Las Vegas. The world needs more people like you.

Carmel Hopkins, real estate product manager for the Las Vegas Review-Journal and Las Vegas Sun, can be reached at 380-4574. Her e-mail address is Carmel_Hopkins@ lasvegasnewspapers.com. Snail mail is P.O. Box 70, Las Vegas, NV 89125.