FREE LIVE WEBINAR: Applicant Screening and Criminal Histories: Addressing Disparate Impact Liability Under the Fair Housing Act

Event date: 
June 21, 2016 | 1:00 to 2:00 pm EST | Includes Q&A

 

Sponsored by:

This one-hour webinar will focus on the implications, under the Fair Housing Act, of screening applicants for criminal backgrounds, and in using an individual’s criminal history in making rental, lease renewal, and other housing decisions, particularly in light of the newly released HUD guidance on discrimination liability.

An understanding of the new HUD guidance is critical to housing providers—of market-rate and government-assisted housing—which risk liability in discrimination claims brought under the FHA. According to HUD, even in the absence of intentional discrimination, a housing provider’s policies or practices may have a disparate impact on individuals of a particular race, national origin, or other protected class that exposes the provider to liability. 

This program will explain the standards for establishing and countering discrimination liability and the use of statistics and other proof to establish claims of disparate impact. It will also explore steps that can be taken to minimize the risk of liability, including review and revision of the housing provider’s applicant screening policies and procedures.

Issues discussed include:

  • Housing provider liability and defenses under the disparate Impact standard.
  • Review and revision of the housing provider’s applicant screening policies and procedures.
  • Use of statistics to establish claims of disparate impact, including arrest, conviction and incarceration statistics
  • Role of resident screening companies
  • Resident screening best practices

This webinar is specially geared for Multifamily Property Professionals in conventional and government-assisted housing: 

  • Property Owners
  • Property Managers
  • Public Housing Authorities
  • Compliance Professionals
  • Attorneys
  • Training Professionals

Please Note: The information contained in this webinar is provided by Vendome Real Estate Media and is intended for educational and informational purposes only, and should not be construed as legal advice or as an offer to perform legal services on any subject matter.

 

AmRent
https://www.amrent.com/
Contact: sales@amrent.com
614-222-5355

 

 

 

About the Speakers: 

Kathelene Williams, Esq., Partner, Williams & Edelstein, PC
Norcross, Georgia | Tel: 1-770.840.8483 | kathi@fairhouse.net

Kathelene Williams is a partner in the Law Firm of Williams & Edelstein, P.C. providing defense and preventative representation for the housing industry in all civil rights matters. Kathelene also serves as President of the Fair Housing Institute, Inc., a full service training and consulting firm whose mission is to educate and advise the housing industry throughout the country about the social and economic benefits of providing fair housing and equal employment. 

Kathelene represents housing industry clients throughout the country on fair housing and other civil rights matters. She provides her clients with a unique expertise in the fair housing requirements of all types of housing and has contributed to numerous housing industry publications, including as a member of the Board of Advisors of the Fair Housing Coach. In her previous position Kathelene served as the Director of the Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Program for HUD’s Southeast Region.  

Kathelene obtained her J.D. degree from Indiana University Law School in Indianapolis, where she served on the Law Review and Board of Barristers. She lives in the Atlanta area.




 

Linda Richer, Vice President, AmRent, Inc.
Columbus, Ohio | Tel: 614-222-5355 | lricher@amrent.com

Linda Richer is Vice President for AmRent, Inc. an affiliate of CBCInnovis. During her 23 + years with the company, Linda has worked within the multi-family housing industry providing resident screening and database management solutions to companies across the United States. For 5 years prior to working with AmRent, Linda worked for Sentinel Real Estate Corporation. 

With a Bachelors of Science degree in Education from The Ohio State University, Linda has stayed closed to her alma mater making her home in Central Ohio for over 36 years. 

Linda has been an active member of the Columbus Apartment Association for 24 years, serving as Chair or Co-chair on the Associate Council for 6 of her 20 years of service. In 2005, the CAA won the Paradigm Award for its Membership Mentoring Program initiated in 2004 of which Linda chaired.  In 2012, she was the chairperson of the Expo Workgroup a committee she has served on for 18 years. Linda remains an active Ambassador for CAA events. AmRent participates in local, regional and national membership in over 30 apartment, manufactured housing and affordable housing associations.

Linda has written articles for Units Magazine and other apartment association publications.