Wednesday, Apr 3 2013 3:50PM

A new campaign will help educate housing providers on best practices under the Fair Housing Act.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) will coordinate to launch a national media campaign during Fair Housing Month.

The two agencies plan to educate the public and housing providers on their rights and responsibilities under the Fair Housing Act in an effort to eradicate housing discrimination and ensure that low-income Americans have access to affordable housing assistance. The "Fair Housing Is Your Right. Use It" campaign will rely on radio and print public service advertisements in several languages to provide examples on the various actions that violate the Fair Housing Act. 

"Forty-five years since the passage of the Fair Housing Act, unlawful discrimination continues to keep many individuals and families from obtaining the housing of their choice," said John Trasviña, HUD Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. "The campaign being launched today will help HUD and our fair housing partners combat discrimination by arming the public with information about their fair housing rights and informing housing providers about their responsibilities under the law."

The issue of housing discrimination among the nation's largest mortgage services was highlighted in recent years, and culminated in a $46 billion-dollar settlement that will directly assist the homeowners who were affected.

For more information, check out this resource: The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development