Orlando, FL – According to Realtor.com’s most recent May rent report, three Florida metro areas are leading the nation in rent growth – Miami, Orlando and Tampa – causing many to declare the Sunshine State as the least affordable in the country. As prices to rent or own a home continue to surge with limited supply, it is critical that Florida residents understand their rights and protections within the state landscape and that leaders bring solutions to the table.
Representative Anna V. Eskamani will host a virtual event on Tuesday, June 21st from 10:00AM – 11:00AM centered around housing discrimination and tenant protections, including efforts to create a local Tenant Bill of Rights in Orange County after Hillsborough County did the same. The program will include voices from national, state, and local organizations dedicated to housing justice and legal services.
- Natalie Maxwell, Senior Attorney, National Housing Law Project
- Joseph Cordova, Attorney, Florida Legal Services
- Katherine Hanson, Senior Staff Attorney, Disability Rights Florida
- Yesica Ramirez, Organizer, Florida Farmworker Association
- Heather Wilkie, Executive Director, Zebra Coalition
The 2016-2020 Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice in Orange County demonstrated that a need for continuous education in both the private and public sectors was an impediment to fair housing choice. As such, this conversation will seek to amplify the needs of existing Florida residents and to describe fair housing protections in a range of situations, including renting, buying, financing, purchasing, advertising, and more.
The program will explore advocacy issues, including protections guaranteed under the Fair Housing Act and explore trends in housing discrimination of vulnerable populations like youth, the LGTBQ+ community, and those who are undocumented or live with disabilities. The speakers will also discuss areas to collaborate at the state and local level and describe ways to organize around improved housing conditions.
Join us Tuesday to discuss existing housing discrimination protections in-place as well as opportunities to improve tenant rights for Florida residents.
- WHO: Representative Anna V. Eskamani; Natalie Maxwell, Senior Attorney, National Housing Law Project; Joseph Cordova, Attorney, Florida Legal Services; Katherine Hanson, Senior Staff Attorney, Disability Rights Florida; Yesica Ramirez, Organizer, Florida Farmworker Association; Heather Wilkie, Executive Director, Zebra Coalition
- WHAT: Protecting Florida Residents: A Panel on Housing Discrimination and Improving Tenant Protections
- WHEN: Tuesday, June 21st from 10:00AM – 11:00AM EST
- WHERE: Facebook Live and Zoom
- LINK: bit.ly/housinginfl
- RSVP: Contact lauren.cooper@myfloridahouse.gov or (407) 228-1451
The event will be streamed on Facebook Live here but if you prefer a Zoom link we can provide one to you upon your RSVP.
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