City of Santa Monica, CA
04/18/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/18/2024 13:14
Symposium on fair housing laws and youth poster contest finalists announced
April 18, 2024 12:00 PM
SANTA MONICA, Calif. (April 18, 2024) - The city celebrates Fair Housing Month this April by hosting a free symposium on local fair housing laws and housing discrimination at the Main Library and by announcing student finalists of the popular annual youth poster contest. This year's contest received entries around the theme "Fair housing builds communities."
The 2024 Fair Housing Symposium will take place on Wednesday, April 24, from 2:30 to 5 p.m. in the Main Library Multipurpose Room.
Speakers include Senior Attorney at the Unhoused Persons Justice Project at the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles Shayla Myers, attorneys from the Consumer Protection Unit of the Santa Monica City Attorney's Office and other special guests.
Topics include the barriers unhoused persons face in obtaining permanent housing; the impact of fair housing laws on tenant screening policies, including source of income and housing status discrimination (newly passed in Santa Monica); and a basic overview of fair housing laws.
Property owners, managers, attorneys, social-service providers, tenants and all members of the public are invited to attend.
Space is limited and pre-registration is required. Refreshments and parking validation will be provided at the Main Library lot. Biking and public transit is encouraged. Register here by April 22.
Over 300 elementary and middle school students from Santa Monica participated in the city's Student Fair Housing Poster Contest. A panel of judges had the tough but enjoyable task of selected nine finalists. They are:
- Eva Meza - 1st Grade - Saint Anne School
- Noe Lanich - 2nd grade - Grant Elementary
- Evan Hernandez - 3rd grade - Saint Anne School
- George Buckner - 4th grade - Roosevelt Elementary Kate Angeles - 5th grade - Saint Anne School
- Henry W. - 7th grade - Saint Anne School - Judge's Choice
- Elissa C. - 7th grade - Saint Anne School
- Sophia Hernandez - 8th grade - Saint Anne School
One poster will be part of the City's 2024 fair housing newspaper ad campaign and four of the posters will be published as calendars for 2025.
For more information on Santa Monica consumer and housing protections, click here.
Media Contact
Tati Simonian
Public Information Officer
[email protected]