High Point committee recommends adoption of local fair housing ordinance

A High Point committee has recommended the city council adopt a fair housing ordinance, which would allow local officials to investigate residents' concerns of discriminatory practices.

The city of High Point has referred eight fair housing complaints to the North Carolina Human Relations Commission since July 1. The year before that it forwarded 11.

That's according to a recent presentation given to the city's Prosperity, Livability and Safety Committee. High Point Managing Director Jeron Hollis said at the meeting any new ordinance would need to mirror the federal Fair Housing Act.

The law prohibits discrimination in the process of renting or buying a home and other housing-related activities.

"Offering the same protections, rights and remedies as the Fair Housing Act, and empowering the agency, if necessary, to investigate and have decision-making authority on next steps to resolve these issues. Those are the two critical areas of what substantial equivalences would mean for an organization," he said.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) would have to approve the ordinance if adopted by the city council.

If passed the city would join the likes of Greensboro, Winston-Salem and Raleigh which all have their own local fair housing ordinances.