The Metropolitan St. Louis Equal Housing and Opportunity Council 18th Annual Regional Fair Housing Training Conference Modern Segregation: Addressing Barriers to Equality in Local Governments Friday, April 10, 2015 · 8:30 AM ­ 4:00 PM · Missouri History Museum FREE Registration for municipalities receiving CDBG funds from St. Louis County (up to 2 attendees). Registration: $35 (before March 13) or $45 per person. To register, visit ​
www.ehocstl.org​
. Agenda​
(​
subject to change) 8:30 – 9:00 AM ​
Registration and Breakfast 9:00 – 9:15 AM ​
Welcome and Introductory Remarks 9:15 – 10:15 AM ​
Keynote Address Philip Tegeler, President and Executive Director Poverty and Race Research Action Council 10:15 – 10:30 AM ​
Break 10:30 – 11:45 AM ​
Local Perspectives:​
P
​anel Discussion Panelists provide a brief overview of four local issues related to modern segregation in St. Louis. A. Engaging the Community Eleanor Tutt, Rise. ​
Public input is an important and required element of community development and fair housing planning, but methods for engaging the community do not often result in high levels of public participation. This session will highlight methods to increase participation and community engagement, as well as ways to easily incorporate fair housing data into community planning efforts. B. Can I Live Here, Please? Occupancy Permits and Nuisance Bans Rigel Oliveri, University of Missouri School of Law. ​
Throughout the St. Louis region, prospective residents are often required to request occupancy permits from a local municipality before occupying their homes. While many residents are able to obtain permits without issues, multiple local municipalities have found themselves facing legal action for potentially discriminatory issues. C. Municipal Ordinance Enforcement: At What Cost? Brendan Roediger, St. Louis University Legal Clinic. ​
Recent local and national news stories have focused on the extent to which local municipalities rely on criminal fines to support their finances. Local advocates suggest that this profit­driven approach to ordinance enforcement has a disproportionate impact on the poor and members of protected classes. D. Better Blocks: The North County Housing Market Gail Brown and ​
Denise Outlaw­Adams​
, St. Louis Association of REALTORS®. ​
I n the wake of events in Ferguson, the local housing market is potentially at risk. St. Louis area REALTORS® are taking a proactive approach to help stabilize North County neighborhoods, and to educate the community about the advantages, amenities, and great home values the area has to offer. 11:45 – 12:00 PM ​
Open Door Awards 12:00 – 1:00 PM ​
Lunch Break ​
(boxed lunches provided) For more information, visit www.ehocstl.org Sponsored in part by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, St. Louis Association of REALTORS®, St. Louis City, St. Louis County, and State Farm. The Metropolitan St. Louis Equal Housing and Opportunity Council 18th Annual Regional Fair Housing Training Conference 1:00 – 2:15 PM ​
Concurrent Breakout Sessions A. Municipal Court Enforcement: At What Cost? Thomas Harvey, Arch City Defenders; Brendan Roediger, St. Louis University Legal Clinic. Expanding on the discussion from the morning panel, this workshop will focus on how municipal court enforcement in the region has the effect of pushing the poor further into poverty, perpetuating racial disparities, and preventing the homeless from accessing the housing, treatment, and jobs they need. B: The Future of Disparate Impact Rigel Oliveri, University of Missouri School of Law​
. The Supreme Court is currently evaluating whether the Fair Housing Act covers discriminatory impacts (i.e. neutral sounding policies that have especially adverse effects on protected classes). This workshop will summarize the legal arguments made in the case and explore legal impacts of potential decisions. C: Fair Housing for Municipalities: Part 1 Philip Tegeler, Poverty and Race Research Action Council; Elisabeth Risch, EHOC. ​
The first of a two­part workshop, this session will provide an overview of how fair housing rules and regulations apply to local governments and municipalities, including fair housing obligations related to receipt of Community Development Block Grant funds. D: Fair Housing 101: Part 1 Nate Johnson, St. Louis Association of REALTORS®. ​
Real estate professionals seeking Continuing Education credits can obtain 3 hours of Fair Housing training (core credit) from the St. Louis Association of REALTORS®. 2:30 – 3:45 PM ​
Concurrent Breakout Sessions A. Can I Live Here, Please? Occupancy Permits and Nuisance Bans Rigel Oliveri, University of Missouri School of Law; Kalila Jackson, EHOC. ​
While designed to protect communities, in practice, occupancy permits and nuisance ordinances often have powerful negative impacts on vulnerable populations. This workshop will expand on the morning panel discussion to explain in­depth how these policies play out, and what can be done to address the disparities. B. Section 8 Voucher Discrimination Charles Bryson, Civil Rights Enforcement Agency; Molly Metzger, George Warren Brown School of Social Work; Zachary Schmook, EHOC. ​
I n February 2015, the City of St. Louis passed an ordinance making it illegal to deny housing to persons on the basis of their receipt of a subsidized housing voucher. This workshop will explain the new rule and review enforcement of similar rules by other state and municipal governments. C: Fair Housing for Municipalities: Part 2 Philip Tegeler, Poverty and Race Research Action Council; Elisabeth Risch, EHOC. ​
This is the second session of a two­part workshop designed for municipal employees and elected officials. This will focus on practical strategies and best practices for how municipalities can comply with fair housing laws and regulations. D: Fair Housing 101: Part 2 Nate Johnson, St. Louis Association of REALTORS®. ​
Real estate professionals seeking Continuing Education credits can obtain 3 hours of Fair Housing training (core credit) from the St. Louis Association of REALTORS®. For more information, visit www.ehocstl.org Sponsored in part by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, St. Louis Association of REALTORS®, St. Louis City, St. Louis County, and State Farm.