2021 City of Bowie Fair Housing Symposium

The City of Bowie hosted a free online fair housing symposium on Friday, April 30, 2021. A recording of the presentation can be viewed here.

Who Should View the Presentation

:
Code Enforcement Officers, Law Enforcement Officers, City and County employees, realtors, property management firms, homeowner associations, and all persons interested in housing protections and affordability for veterans, persons with disabilities, families, and others, including any resident interested in learning more about fair housing laws and protections.

Presentation by Manuel Ochoa of Ochoa Urban Collaborative
Manuel T. Ochoa has over 25 years’ experience in urban planning, housing, and community development. Manuel is principal and founder of the Ochoa Urban Collaborative. Before founding Ochoa Urban Collaborative, Ochoa has been a leader in community and economic development with a unique mix of experience in federal and local government, as well as national non-profits. Manuel assisted in the development of the 2020-2025 PGC/Bowie Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing (AI) and is a consultant on the Metropolitan Washington Council of Government's Regional AI team.

Learn more about the Ochoa Urban Collaborative 

Fair Housing Month

The City of Bowie is an Entitlement Community with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). As part of its annual certification for the receipt and use of grant funds provided to the City, the City Manager, and Mayor and City Council by resolution, agree to:

Affirmatively Further Fair Housing

The jurisdiction will affirmatively further fair housing, which means it will conduct an analysis of impediments to fair housing choice within the jurisdiction, take appropriate actions to overcome the effects of any impediments identified through that analysis, and maintain records reflecting that analysis and actions in this regard.

Note: The joint PGC/Bowie 2020 – 2025 Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice (AI) was recently completed and submitted to HUD for review and approval.

The Office of Grants Development & Administration (OGDA) is the City’s Fair Housing Administration and Compliance entity and is responsible for community outreach, education, information dissemination, and the City’s intake and referral process for persons/families with Fair Housing complaints.

HUD Commemorates National Fair Housing Month 2021

WASHINGTON, DC - The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) celebrated  Fair Housing Month in April 2021. This year’s Fair Housing Month theme, Fair Housing: More Than Just Words, reflects the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to advancing equity in housing and the importance of increasing public awareness of everyone’s right to fair housing. 

“Fair Housing Month is a time to recommit to our nation’s obligation to ensure that everyone has equal access to safe, affordable housing,” said HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge. “Unfortunately, housing discrimination still exists, from individuals and families being denied a place to call home because of the color of their skin or where they come from, to landlords refusing to allow persons with disabilities to keep assistance animals, to individuals being denied a place to live because of who they love. In this moment of unprecedented crisis, fair housing is more important than ever. 53 years after the Fair Housing Act was signed, our journey to justice in housing continues.”

Visit the HUD website for a complete listing of HUD Fair Housing Month events and activities.