Program Highlights

The State of Fair Housing: A Report from the National Commission on Fair Housing and Equal OpportunityOn April 30, 2010, HUSL Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Okianer Christian Dark, was a keynote speaker on “The State of Fair Housing: A Report from the National Commission on Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity.” at the Annual Conference sponsored by the Long Island Fair Housing Services. The program was held at Touro School of Law in Central Islip, NY. Also, Associate Dean Dark recently published an article titled “Accomplishing the Goals of the Fair Housing Act” in The Housing Journal, published by the membership of the Delaware Housing Coalition. Her article begins on page six. May 10, 2010
Archived Testimony of Prof. Brian Gilmore before the House Subcommitte on Housing and community OpportunityIf you missed Professor Brian Gilmore’s testimony as one of the witnesses before the House Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity hearing regarding the Housing Fairness Act of 2009 (H.R. 476), you may click link above.

If you would like to view Prof. Gilmore’s testimony in particular, it begins approximately 1 hour and 8 minutes into the hearing and he answers some questions approximately 6 minutes later.

H.R. 476, the Housing Fairness Act of 2009, is a bill sponsored by Rep. Al Green, (D-Texas 9th District). The bill authorizes $20 million annually for HUD to administer a nationwide testing program to measure patters of adverse treatment based on race, color, religion, sex, familial status, disability or national origins in rentals, real estate sales, and lending practices. January 20, 2010
Gilmore Weighs in Over the Airwaves of NPR’s KCRW “To The Point”, Santa Monica, CANew York’s Westchester County was sued for defrauding the federal government by misrepresenting its efforts to comply with conditions mandated for housing assistance. On Monday, August 10th, the County entered into a “landmark desegregation agreement,” compelling creation of affordable housing in overwhelmingly white communities, including Scarsdale, Broxville and Hastings-on-Hudson. NPR radio station KCRW interviews Gerald McKinstry of the Journal News and Brian Gilmore, supervising attorney for the Fair Housing Clinic at Howard University School of Law. Click the above link, when the media player for KCRW appears, advance to the player to 41:00 of the broadcast where Professor Gilmore’s segment is. The program is 60 minutes, and Prof. Gilmore’s interview begins 41 minutes into the program. August 11, 2009
HUSL Fair Housing Clinic’s Fair Housing Month ActivitiesThe HUSL Fair Housing Clinical Law Program has a number of community outreach and seminar activities scheduled in observance of Fair Housing Month and the 41st Anniversary of the Fair Housing Act. HUD has declared, “Building the American Dream For All,” as the theme for this year’s Fair Housing Month ceremony, emphasizes the Fair Housing Act’s promise that all people have a chance at the American dream regardless of their race, color, national origin, sex, religion, familial status, or disability. April 1, 2009
Professor Gilmore Interview on YouTubeProfessor Brian Gilmore, supervising attorney and adjunct professor at the Howard University School of Law Fair Housing Clinic is interviewed at the Office of the Tenant Advocate’s Tenant/Tenant Association Summit on February 18, 2009 on YouTube. February 23, 2009
Statement From Okianer Christian Dark, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the Howard University School of Law“Civil rights organizations have for years been warning about predatory lending and subprime mortgages that target communities of color, communities that often don’t have access to traditional lending institutions. We want to prevent this from happening again by evicting discrimination from our communities. We want a nation that is committed to integrated neighborhoods, an increase in the availability of affordable housing and a regulated lending environment in which people can borrow without sorrow.”- Okianer Christian Dark December 11, 2008
REGISTER NOW FOR THE FOURTH ANNUAL LAW FOR THE PEOPLE: THE CIVIL RIGHTS SCHOOLFOURTH ANNUAL FAIR HOUSING LAW FOR THE PEOPLE: THE CIVIL RIGHTS LAW SCHOOL

“THE COMING WORLD: FAIR AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE 21ST CENTURY”

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2008 9:00 AM—1:00 PM HOWARD UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW MOOT COURTROOM September 10, 2008
Foreclosure Workshop Shows Kingswood Residents How to CopeMore than 50 Lanham residents received money management and budgeting tips, were warned to stay away from quick-fix loans and given advice about what to do when a neighbor vacates a home at a foreclosure workshop June 12 at Trinity Moravian Church on Good Luck Road. The workshop, sponsored by the Kingswood Civic Association, was conducted by Edward Davis, the Fair Housing Clinic program director at the Howard University School of Law; and Bill Edelen, a code enforcement officer for the county’s Department of Environmental Resources. June 23, 2008
As Foreclosure Crisis Unfolds, Homeowners Seek HelpLucas Addo came to the United States in the 1960s looking for the American dream, but a bad mortgage two years ago has left him disillusioned and facing foreclosure…Addo spoke with a law student Thursday at Eastern Montgomery Regional Services Center as part of the Howard University School of Law Fair Housing Clinic. He received information about free counselors through the Civil Justice Inc. Representatives from the organizations explained foreclosure, the steps to avoid it and how residents could get objective and free assistance. January 30, 2008
Professor Brian Gilmore to Present at the Berkeley Journal of African-American Law & Policy (BJALP) 2007 SymposiumAs the 2008 election draws near, what are the critical legal issues facing minority communities across the United States? How will the lives and needs of these communities influence and be influenced by electoral politics, the 2008 presidential election, and the next administration? What are the key problems and how can we effectively address them as we move towards the next phase in the nation’s political life? On November 9, 2007, the Berkeley Journal of African-American Law & Policy (BJALP) will host a symposium focusing on critical legal issues facing minority communities in light of the upcoming 2008 election. Given the current legal, social, and political atmosphere, this is an opportune time to examine those issues that are most salient to minority communities and to begin setting an agenda aimed at effective change and reform. We invite you to be a part of the discussion. November 1, 2007
THIRD ANNUAL FAIR HOUSING LAW FOR THE PEOPLE: THE CIVIL RIGHTS LAW SCHOOL“THE SILENT KILLER OF DREAMS: FORECLOSURES, SUB-PRIME LENDING AND THE IMPACT ON COMMUNITIES OF COLOR”—A PANEL DISCUSSION

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2007 9:30 AM—1:00 PM HOWARD UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW MOOT COURTROOM

For additional information and to register, please click the above link. October 9, 2007
FAIR HOUSING CLINICS: FREE ADVICE ON HOUSING WORRIESAs the area housing market changes, foreclosures escalate, credit becomes more difficult to obtain, and discrimination in housing lending, rentals and sales remains an issue, the Howard University School of Law Fair Housing Clinic offers the public information to assist them. Law students will describe how the law protects you from housing discrimination, offer free legal advice and referrals to residents during these free legal seminars. October 2, 2007
Professor Brian Gilmore Publishes Article in University of the Disitrict of Columbia Law ReviewSupervising Attorney for the Howard University School of Law’s Fair Housing Clinic, Brian Gilmore, authored a journal article that has been published in The University of the District of Columbia Law Review, Spring 2007, Volume 10, Number 1, entitled, ” Love You Madly: The Life and times of the Neighborhood legal Services Program of Washington, D.C.” July 4, 2007
Don’t Mourn Brown v. Board of EducationLET us now praise the Brown decision. Let us now bury the Brown decision. With yesterday’s Supreme Court ruling ending the use of voluntary schemes to create racial balance among students, it is time to acknowledge that Brown’s time has passed. It is worthy of a send-off with fanfare for setting off the civil rights movement and inspiring social progress for women, gays and the poor. But the decision in Brown v. Board of Education that focused on outlawing segregated schools as unconstitutional is now out of step with American political and social realities. June 29, 2007
All American Presidential Forum to be Held at Howard UniversityOn Thursday, June 28, Tavis Smiley will moderate a Democratic Presidential Forum on the Howard University campus in Cramton Auditorium from 9:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. (EST). The forum will be broadcast live nationwide on PBS. This historic broadcast marks the first time that a panel comprised exclusively of journalists of color will be presented nationally and in primetime. June 26, 2007
Kurt L. Schmoke, Dean of Howard University School of Law and former Mayor of Baltimore, joins Carnegie Corporation of New York BKurt L. Schmoke, Dean of the historic and prestigious Howard University School of Law, has been elected to the board of Carnegie Corporation of New York, effective June 14th, 2007. Schmoke, a Rhodes Scholar and dynamic urban leader, is the twenty-first member of the board and joins a group of three university presidents, three former governors, as well as current and former leaders from the World Bank, who serve as trustees to the Corporation. “I am pleased that Kurt Schmoke, the former Mayor of Baltimore, has accepted our invitation to join our board. His experience as a big-city mayor and educator, as well as his commitment to social justice and his lifelong involvement in education and public service will serve to strengthen Carnegie Corporation’s leadership in the coming years,” said Vartan Gregorian, president of Carnegie Corporation of New York. June 2, 2007
Watters v. WachoviaWatters v. Wachovia bank, N.A. (05-1342) State Mortgage lending laws are preempted by Comptroller of the Currency regulation Decided April 17, 2007. In short: Michigan cannot regulate the wholly-owned subsidiary of Wachovia Bank, a national bank, because such regulation is preempted by regulations of the federal Comptroller of the Currency. June 1, 2007
AMERICAN DREAM DOWNPAYMENT INITIATIVE (ADDI)The American Dream Downpayment Initiative (ADDI) was signed into law by President Bush on December 16, 2003 under the American Dream Downpayment Act (Public Law 108-186) (ADDI statute). Funds made available under the ADDI statute will be allocated to eligible HOME program participating jurisdictions (PJ) to assist low-income families become first-time homebuyers. May 10, 2007
APRIL IS FAIR HOUSING MONTH: Fair Housing Clinical Program Announces Activities for Fair Housing Month 2007It was 39 years ago this April that the Fair Housing Act became law. The Fair Housing Clinic at the Howard University School of Law announces the following activities to celebrate and to forge the mission of the act this month… March 28, 2007
HUSL Fair Housing Clinic Announces Seminar on Preventing ForeclosuresIn conjunction with its ongoing community outreach and educational activities, the Fair Housing Clinic at the Howard University School of Law will hold a seminar on preventing foreclosures on Thursday, March 22, 2007, from 6 PM till 7:30 PM at the Law School, Houston Hall room 4 (Van Ness campus). Refreshments will be served. March 19, 2007
Luke Charles Moore Invitational 2007 Overview and AppreciationLCMI 2007 Chair, Diana Vilmenay reflects on this year’s competition and awards ceremony. March 16, 2007
Environmental Justice Conference 2007 at The Howard University School of Law, March 29-31Leaders from various sectors will engage in 3 days of free exchange of new ideas and new approaches to environmental justice. The program format will feature needs and challenges of communities, governments, municipalities, communities, faith-based organizations, and others with an interest in environmental matters and environmental justice. March 5, 2007
Luke Charles Moore Invitational CompetitionThis year’s competition will address arguments regarding zoning regulations that violate Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act) and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution. January 11, 2007
Fair Housing Clinic hosts Home-Buying SeminarOur Fair Housing Clinic Students answer your questions about Home buying. October 31, 2006
The Initial “Fair Housing for all” Quarterly NewsletterWelcome to the first edition of the FAIR HOUSING FOR ALL Quarterly Newsletter October 30, 2006
Impact Litigation/Exclusionary ZoningOverview of Typical Private Fair Housing Cases October 5, 2006