April is Fair Housing Month! 2023 marks the 55th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act, a federal law that protects people from discrimination when renting or buying a home, along with other housing-related activities. Just in time for Fair Housing Month, Yardi Aspire courses have been refreshed with an all-new illustrated design and an interactive narrative style that keeps learners engaged. In Aspire, returning learners will notice a new cast of characters and new scenario-based challenges that shine a spotlight on real-world violation risks by property type (market rate versus affordable) and role (property manager, leasing, marketing and maintenance). Fair Housing Month reminds industry professionals that diversity and inclusion are important in our communities, as are the laws that uphold these principles in housing and housing-related services. It is recommended that companies invest in proactive employee training to ensure compliance, prevent costly fines and avoid punitive damages and legal fees related to violations. While fair housing training is not mandated by the federal government, it is best practice for employers to require all employees in public and resident-facing roles to complete a comprehensive learning plan of two to five hours within the first 30 days of employment — and recertify on a shorter version of the training annually thereafter. With a comprehensive catalog of customizable micro-training modules, clients can remove pages and insert company-specific policies, anecdotes and key messages to achieve greater impact. Aspire courses are routinely updated by certified federal fair housing experts. Aspire gives learners the chance to prepare for situations before they arise. Real-world practice challenges provide a supportive environment for employees to explore appropriate responses to reasonable accommodation requests and fair housing complaints. Enhance supervisor and administrator awareness with a connected system that ensures training compliance. Aspire delivers deep data...

April is Fair Housing Month. Created in the aftermath of the assassination of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr., the 1968 Fair Housing Act aimed to eliminate housing discrimination in every neighborhood. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) sponsors a month long celebration that began on April 4 – the 44th anniversary of King’s death –  with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial on the National Mall. Speakers such as Xernona Clayton, humanitarian, Ruth Martin, National Campaign Director for MomsRising, and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes-Norton, Congresswoman, evoked King’s fight for the rights of all Americans to live where they please and have equal protection of Constitutional privileges. According to John Trasvina, Assistant Secretary for the Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) and HUD, more than 10,000 Americans alleged that they have been a victim of housing discrimination based on disability, race, gender identity and other factors last year. Trasvina detailed the extensive efforts of HUD to provide fair housing protections, end discrimination, and defend those who have been discriminated again in a post on The HUDdle, HUD’s official blog. Despite the lengthy passage of time, heightened education efforts and much legislation, there is still much to be done to achieve King’s dream. The theme for this year is “Live Free: Creating Equal Opportunity in Every Community.”  It speaks to the commitment to ensure that everyone in America can live where they choose regardless of factors such as race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. Throughout the month, there will be fair housing events across the country with speakers sharing the Fair Housing message and revealing the fair housing challenges that affect our nation today. What do you think the Fair Housing Act has accomplished?...