Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Fair housing laws

[Robert Heinich (robert]

The NYTimes had an interesting recent article relating to this topic.  It also 
has a graphic which nicely illustrates what Liz, (The Rev.) Elizabeth M. 
Magill, said on the varying status of protected classes at the federal NYState 
and NYC levels.

  Questions Your Broker Can't Answer
  "WHAT kind of people live in this building?"

  That is often the first question brokers are asked by apartment hunters - be 
they couples with children, retirees seeking peace and quiet or 20-somethings 
prone to the occasional raucous party.

  But in recent months, thousands of brokers have learned that in answering 
that question, they might just be breaking the law. Many real estate ads, for 
instance, use "family friendly" to describe large apartments. But according to 
a strict interpretation of federal, state and local fair-housing laws, that is 
illegal.

  to see the rest of the article, go to 
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/24/realestate/24cov.html?ex=1183608000&en=dc1c471363cd2ebb&ei=5070

-Robert Heinich
 Eno Commons Cohousing
 www.enocommons.org
 Durham, NC
 where in The Common House we are hosting a Bluegrass Day Camp for Kids
 sponsored by Eno River Association & Festival for the Eno.