
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, April 23, 1995                   TAG: 9505080009
SECTION: AMERICAN HOME WEEK                    PAGE: 17   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: MARYLOU - CHAIRMAN, FAIR HOUSING COMMITTEE
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

FAIR HOUSING OPENS DOORS

The celebration of Fair Housing Month in April is an excellent time to reflect on what has been done to eliminate housing discrimination and consider what more needs to be accomplished, according to the New River Valley Association of REALTORS.

The association has joined with the National Association of REALTORS in choosing "Fair Housing Opens Doors" as its celebration theme again this year. According to MARYLOU, Chairman of the Fair Housing Committee, the theme appropriately reflects the possibilities offered by the fair housing laws.

"Equal housing opportunity does open doors. The REALTOR organization firmly supports the principle of fair housing for all," she said. "We are fully committed to complying with the fair housing law. There is no room in our profession for housing discrimination."

The federal fair housing law prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, sex, familial status, handicap and in Virginia - elderliness.

The National Association of REALTORS continues to enter into the Voluntary Affirmative Marketing Agreement (VAMA) with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). HUD is charged with implementing the federal fair housing law. VAMA provides participants with guidelines on marketing, advertising, training and education, and it encourages cooperation with community-based fair housing and civil rights groups. VAMA has been signed by more than half of NAR's nearly 1,800 local boards and associations and all of its state associations.

"To REALTORS, fair housing means equal access," MARYLOU said. "A person's ability to rent or own should be limited only by how much he can afford."

The New River Valley Association of REALTORS is one of more than 1,800 local boards and associations that comprise the National Association of REALTORS. As the nation's largest trade association, NAR is "The Voice for Real Estate," representing nearly 750,000 members involved in all aspects of the real estate industry.

by CNB