housing, as well as accessibility issues in new construction. While the
recommended actions focus on reasonable accommodations, the County
should also encourage accessibility both in new construction and existing
housing stock increases housing opportunity for people with disabilities.
Under Impediment 2, the AI notes that the county has not developed a
fair housing policy statement or fair housing ordinance that applies to
incorporated and unincorporated areas. Open Communities suggests
that Lake County consider additional protected classes such as source of
income, gender identity and housing status.
Open Communities would add to the list of Public Sector Impediments
the need for addressing multiple language needs. Strategies for
affirmative marketing could include municipal promotional materials and
website that welcome diversity. Materials should be reviewed for equal
housing logos, diverse human models and welcoming language, and all
materials for the public should be in multiple languages, particularly
Spanish. When it comes to the Latino community, Open Communities is
also concerned about the occupancy codes and “crime free” programs
that may have a disparate impact on minority communities.
Open Communities would strongly underscore an excellent point made in
several places in the “Impediments and Action” section, which is that
leadership starts at the top. Lake County should not make home rule
status, either of the County or of individual municipalities, an excuse for
failing to ask municipalities to undertake as simple task as reminding
local residents of existing fair housing laws at the state and federal level.
The County should also make clear to all municipalities that the extent to
which they are providing for mixed income housing is a reflection of the
extent to which they affirmatively further fair housing.
Open Communities is here to assist with education and testing needs for
Lake County and looks forward to a continued cooperative partnership
with the County.
Sincerely,
Viki Rivkin
Director of Fair Housing