Consultant for Fair Housing Services

The vendor is required to provide that consultant for fair housing services
- Fair housing analysis:
• Provide continuous information for fair housing services, discrimination counseling for the residents of city
• Establish and maintain a collaborative relationship with city departments city, and local organizations.
• Include the local apartment owner’s association, the greater los Angeles association of realtors (GAVAR), chambers of commerce, and nonprofits.
• Provide informational materials to city staff.
• Includes training for the landlord training program, code enforcement, public safety, city staff, or other local organizations as needed
• Provide technical assistance to the city on fair housing requirements associated with the use of grant and housing programs including the regulatory requirements
• Provide assistance with the fair housing assessment report if due during the contract period.
- Training and education
• A walk-in clinic at a site located in a minimum of one time per month for residents and virtual clinic services throughout the month by phone, zoom or other meeting software.
• The date of the walk-in clinic, consultant will prepare and release a public service announcement and seek local broadcasting of same describing the consultants’ services and to promote the monthly walk-in clinic.
• Includes public access channel 27 and social media.
• Include the number of clients assisted and the literature distributed through the clinic
• Provide both monthly and year-to-date figures.
• Organize workshops and programs focused on fair housing laws, aimed at educating communities on to effectively address issues related to housing inequity.
• Providing fair housing information at a community event at least once each program year
• Includes reserving the booth, providing information and literature in both english and Spanish and answering questions from attendees.
• Provide information for tenants, owners, landlords, managers, staff of rental housing, real estate and lending professionals, and educate potential renters and buyers of their rights under fair housing law and fair housing practices
• The form of written evaluation about the subject matter presented, presentation format, materials provided and overall program.
- Outreach and advocacy
• Consultant will develop and distribute written materials that outline the laws protecting against housing discrimination and provide strategies to prevent housing injustices.
• Provide materials and programs to a diverse range of audiences, including residential property personnel, realtors, landlords, potential renters, prospective homebuyers, code enforcement personnel, city employees, and other nonprofit organizations.
• Write and publish articles and advertisements in print and online media for the antelope valley.
• Potential publications include magazine, antelope valley press, la opinion, los angel’s times, and antelope valley times
• Provide publications at no cost: publish at least one article or advertisement per month
• Publish two paid advertisements per year.
- Literature distribution:
• Distribute a minimum of 250 flyers every quarter throughout the city.
• Occur in locations such as the lobbies of city hall, department offices, county agency offices, libraries, and nonprofit organizations.
• Flyers must be available in english, Spanish, and other relevant languages, and they must receive approval from city staff before being distributed.
- Social media
• Provide fair housing literature, advertisements, press releases, and announcements to the department of housing, requesting that they post it on the city’s social media accounts
• Post fair housing information on the consultant's social media accounts as needed.
- Radio and/or television appearances
• Seek out local radio and television opportunities to discuss fair housing and lending law issues
- Discrimination counseling and information services
• Provide a toll-free telephone number that resident may call to ask for information concerning possible discrimination in housing.
• Council individuals who believe they are a victim of discrimination.
• Investigate complaints of discrimination through intake, case investigation, testing, surveys, on-site visits, witness statements, documenting requests and review, and legal research.
• Complaint resolution through conciliation, referral to government administrative agencies such as the department of fair employment and housing (DFEH), and/or referral to an attorney and continued investigation.
• Maintain records of the basis of discrimination complaints through a comprehensive complaint management database which tracks counseling and discrimination case data that also provides statistical and diagnostic information/reports.
• Mediate legitimate discrimination complaints.
• Mediation is unsuccessful, assist complainant with necessary paperwork to process a complaint with the appropriate agency at the state or federal, or with a private attorney.
• Conduct testing and audits as needed, especially in response to a significant number of specific discrimination complaints.
• Prepare intake forms in connection with all callers for the purpose of documenting services provided, and the nature of the complaint.
• Maintain records for each individual who submits a discrimination complaint, ensuring that these files be made available for review by staff when needed.
• Provide telephone and in-person counseling to both tenants and landlords regarding their respective rights and responsibilities under state law and local city ordinances.
• In addition to answering basic housing questions, counselors advise clients on how to resolve their housing problems or issues.
• If issue is outside of the scope of consultant’s services, provide appropriate referral information. provide bilingual communication to clients seeking assistance.
- Contract Period/Term: 3 years
- Questions/Inquires Deadline: March 10, 2025