Fair Housing Month: Ohio Workshop Invites Attendees to Experience a Fair Housing Mock Trial

The Miami Valley Fair Housing Center (MVFHC) and the Dayton Area Board of REALTORS® are planning an event this Thursday in Dayton, Ohio to celebrate Fair Housing Month that will include a luncheon, keynote speakers, award presentations, and a fair housing workshop. Rather than just explain what could happen as a result of alleged fair housing violations, participants will get a chance to observe and explore how things could play out, thanks to a mock trial format.

According to the MVFHC's Web site, here's how the mock trial will work:

• It will be based in part on facts from an actual fair housing case.


• It will examine one or more legal issues most commonly associated with fair housing compliance, such as steering, occupancy standards, and reasonable accommodation and modification request denials.


• There will be a presiding judge, with community members and industry players taking on the roles of plaintiffs, defendants, and jurors.


• All workshop attendees will have an opportunity to participate in the mock trial and ask questions about the issues that arise.


• During jury deliberations, participants will engage in a discussion of real-life tricky situations, such as how housing professionals should respond to prospects' questions about a community's demographics.

If you're in the Miami Valley, Ohio area and wish to attend, see the Web page (cited above) for complete registration and event information.

Return tomorrow for the seventh part of this special "Fair Housing Month" feature at Fairhousingblog.com.