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A Resolution to Approve an Agreement with Hope Fair Housing for Fair Housing Testing and Education
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Introduction
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To support the Village's renewed focus on Fair Housing testing, the Village is seeking to enter into a contract with Hope Fair Housing to conduct more frequent Fair Housing testing and education.
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Recommended Action
Adopt the Resolution.
Prior Board Action
* ID 24-447: A Presentation and Discussion of the Village's Fair Housing Testing Project
Background
In 2023, the Village entered into a contract with Hope Fair Housing to conduct Fair Housing testing about anti-discrimination protections on the basis of Source of Income (SOI) and arrest or conviction records in Oak Park. The findings from this testing were presented to the Village Board on October 1, 2024. During that discussion, the Board recommended staff consider more frequent and a higher volume of Fair Housing testing.
In response, the Village released a request for proposal (RFP) for Fair Housing testing and education on December 18, 2024. The RFP sought a firm that would provide services in 2025, 2026, and 2027. Objectives of the work included:
1. Improve equity and inclusion in Oak Park via greater compliance with federal, state, and local Fair Housing laws.
2. Test regularly on distinct aspects of Fair Housing, monitor for issues, and gauge the impact of past education efforts.
3. Regularly educate households and housing providers about their Fair Housing rights, remedies, and obligations.
4. Regularly adjust Fair Housing education efforts in response to Fair Housing issues identified through testing.
The RFP closed on January 10, 2025. The Village received one response to the RFP, from Hope Fair Housing. Staff reviewed this proposal and found that it fully incorporated the scope items requested by the Village. Services would be provided by a team of staff that have successfully worked with the Village on past Fair Housing pr...
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