A thorough investigation by reporters in New York revealed that real estate agents were blatantly discriminating against the public using many illegal and unethical methods in 2019.
Newsday Special Report: Long Island Divided
The Fair Housing Act passed over 50 years ago in 1968 to explicitly protect people from discrimination when renting or buying a home, getting a mortgage, seeking housing assistance, or engaging in other housing-related activities. National and Colorado laws further extend housing protection regardless of disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
The law alone is not enough to prevent discriminatory practices, reverse the harm imposed on affected communities, nor fix the systemic issues that disadvantage protected groups still today.
West + Main Homes is committed to creating a Fair Housing Policy that exceeds national and state guidelines. We are opening courses to agents from other firms in Colorado and will share best practices with other brokers currently developing or refining training about this topic.
TRAINING FOR DENVER REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS
We are kicking off the year with a series of three in-person training courses taught by Dindi Wade, the Outreach Specialist/Operations Manager at Denver Metro Fair Housing Center.
Wed Feb 19 | Fair Housing 101
Wed Mar 11 | Disability and Fair Housing
Wed Apr 08 | Sexual Harassment in Housing
Denver agents are routinely screened for fair housing competency and will learn how to operate in compliance by attending sessions and documenting their attendance and comprehension.
Classes hosted at our location in RiNo at Blake St. and 26th, just west of Broadway at 10am.
We are excited to engage DMFHC on these courses and look forward to sharing Dindi’s insights and expertise with the real estate community. Our goal is to design a series of career-specific training that our agents can easily attend across the Denver Metro on an annual recurring basis and opening our classes to brokers and agents from other firms as well.
Because the Denver Metro Fair Housing Center is a non-profit, West + Main Homes will proudly donate regularly to help fund education, advocacy, and enforcement of fair housing.
Being an ethical real estate agent means doing more than attending a Code of Ethics class with the local association. It requires curiosity, education, training, and accountability.
Team Diva: What Does It Take To Be An Ethical Real Estate Agent in Today’s Market?
EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY
In addition to events in our offices, we are designing downloadable resources with help from fair housing agencies, REALTOR® associations, and other groups. Agents will be tested on its contents, and everyone will sign an affirmative commitment to equal opportunity.
West + Main Homes will continue curating community outreach activities for agents by renewing a partnership with Giveback Homes to help build affordable housing and new causes like Home Builders Foundation, creating home modifications for people with disabilities.
We will start, participate, and listen in difficult conversations about the impact of the real estate industry in Denver including a review of the Mitigating Involuntary Displacement study initiated by the Mayor’s office, visiting the Undesign the Redline exhibit, and sharing valuable local commentary like How can we see redlining’s lasting impacts on Denver? with our team.
LEADERSHIP FIRST
Our executive staff is committed to seeking qualified guidance, providing regular updates, donating resources/money/time, and auditing company procedures to ensure that we are fit.
We will develop/monitor advertising to indicate everyone is welcome and no one is excluded.
We are taking a positive approach to fair housing practices and will follow the spirit as well as the letter of the law. We refuse to tolerate noncompliance and will act swiftly if concerns arise.
We are sharing our progress in the hopes it will inspire brokers to ask questions, document their efforts, and engage with communities more equitably while learning from us as we go.
We are not doing enough to protect the public or educate workers and that must change now.
