The Outer Banks Association of Realtors recognized National Fair Housing Month in April with a course on recognizing implicit bias in real estate and requesting that Dare County and towns adopt proclamations supporting fair housing.
The Fair Housing Act passed in April 1968 prohibits discrimination by direct providers of housing, such as landlords and real estate companies, municipalities, banks or other lending institutions, and homeowners insurance companies whose discriminatory practices make housing unavailable to persons because of race or color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status or disability, according to justice.gov.
Supporter Spotlight
At the request of the association, Dare County, Duck, Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head and Manteo adopted official proclamations affirming their support of fair housing opportunities.
“Everyone deserves a fair chance at finding a home,” OBAR President Christi Bryant said in a release. “By partnering with local leaders and investing in member education, we’re working to make that vision a reality here in the Outer Banks.”
The association secured a $3,000 housing opportunity grant from the National Association of Realtors to aid the work of the Dare County Housing Taskforce, chaired by the association’s government affairs director, Donna Creef.
This is the first time the Outer Banks group of Realtors has received grant funding from the national association. The grant is to help advance the task force’s priorities include fostering community awareness and empathy, reducing barriers, and providing practical tools to support the development of affordable and accessible housing throughout Dare County.
The Outer Banks association hosted “Bias Override: Overcoming Barriers to Fair Housing” in April with Tikola McCree, 2024 chair of the NC Realtors Diversity Committee and current vice chair of the National Association of Realtors Fair Housing Policy Committee. The program was supported by a second grant from the national association, allowing the course to be offered at a reduced cost to members.
Supporter Spotlight
