Webinars, Expos, and Workshops, Oh My!Check Out ERC’s Fair Housing Month Events
By: Nick Adjami
March 26, 2024
April is Fair Housing Month! We’re excited to announce our biggest slate of events ever, featuring Know Your Rights webinars, in-person resource fairs, and more. All events are free and open to the public. We’re especially excited to invite you to the ERC’s Annual Meeting, which will take place on April 25th. This year’s theme is Weathering the Storm: Protecting Civil Rights in 2025. RSVP to attend!
Full Calendar of Events
See event descriptions below. We don’t yet have all the information for these events, so be sure to bookmark this page and we will update it as that information becomes available.
April 4 – DC Fair Housing Friday: Introduction to Fair Housing
April 8 – Anne Arundel County Know Your Rights Webinar
April 11 – DC Fair Housing Friday: Tenant Screening
April 12 – NOVA Housing Expo
April 17 – West Virginia Human Rights Commission Fair Housing Conference
April 18 – DC Fair Housing Friday: Accessibility
April 19 – Laurel Housing Resource Fair
April 21 – Loudoun County “Know Your Fair Housing Rights & Responsibilities” Event
April 22 – NAACP Fairfax County Meeting
April 23 – Maryland Commission on Civil Rights: Virtual Panel on Source of Income Protections
April 23 – Know Your Rights: Navigating Fair Housing Protections for People with Disabilities
April 25 – Equal Rights Center Annual Meeting: Weathering the Storm
April 25 – DC Fair Housing Friday: Source of Income Protections
April 26 – Live in Arlington Information Fair
April 26 – Fairfax County Black Homeownership Forum
April 26 – Anne Arundel County Homeownership Fair
April 28 – Maryland Commission on Civil Rights Fair Housing Forum
April 29 – GCAAR Profession Session: Policy & Paws
April 30 – Economic Action Maryland: Fair Housing Panel
May 3 – NAACP Arlington Fair Housing Conference
DC Fair Housing Fridays
Time: Each Friday in April, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Place: Online, register here.
Details: ERC has partnered with the DC Office of Human Rights, Department of Housing and Community Development, and Office of the Attorney General to offer four virtual sessions on fair housing hot topics. Renters, homebuyers, homeowners, and housing professionals alike should attend to learn about their fair housing rights and obligations. Week one will provide an intro to fair housing with information about the DC Human Rights Act and how to file a discrimination complaint. Week two will focus on tenant screening rights and best practices, and week three will address accessibility and reasonable accommodation requests. Finally, week four will focus on source of income protections.
Anne Arundel “Know Your Fair Housing Rights” Webinar
Time: Tuesday, April 8th, 4:00 – 4:45 PM
Place: Online, register here.
Details: This webinar concludes a six-part series hosted by the ERC and Anne Arundel County, MD. Join us to learn about your fair housing rights as a renter, homebuyer, or homeowner. You’ll leave with a better understanding of how to identify and respond to possible housing discrimination.
Northern Virginia Housing Expo
Time: Saturday, April 12th,10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Place: Meridian High School, 121 Mustang Alley, Falls Church, VA 22043. Next to West Falls Church Metro Station.
Details: The 15th annual Northern Virginia Housing Expo will be full of resources for first-time homebuyers and renters looking for housing in Northern Virginia. More than fifty representatives from nonprofits, mortgage providers, and government agencies will be in attendance. Can’t come in-person? Check out the Virtual Exhibit Hall.
West Virginia Human Rights Commission Fair Housing Month Conference
Time: Thursday, April 17th, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Place: Morgantown Marriott, 2 Waterfront Pl, Morgantown, WV 26501
Details: This event, intended for housing professionals, will educate attendees about fair housing laws and best practices for compliance. ERC staff will lead a session on barriers that people with disabilities face in regard to housing, and how housing providers can address those barriers. Register to attend.
Harford County Fair Housing Month Event
Time: Thursday, April 17th, 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Place: Harford Community College (Edgewood Hall 132), 401 Thomas Run Rd, Bel Air, MD 21015
Details: This event is designed to connect Harford County renters with resources and assistance. Speakers will explain new fair housing rights and obligations established by the Maryland Renters’ Rights and Stabilization Act of 2024.
Laurel Housing Resource Fair
Time: Saturday, April 19th, 12:00 – 3:00 PM
Place: Laurel Multiservice Center, 204 Fort Meade Rd, Laurel, MD 20707
Details: This event will connect Laurel-area residents with fair housing resources and expertise. Attendees will find information about how to identify and respond to possible housing discrimination.
Loudoun County “Know Your Fair Housing Rights & Responsibilities” Event
Time: Monday, April 21st, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Place: Douglass Community Center Multipurpose Room, 407 East Market Street, Leesburg, VA 20147
Details: Loudoun County is excited to offer residents this opportunity to learn about fair housing protections and connect with local partners. Participate in interactive trivia and discover community resources for renters, homebuyers, and more!
NAACP Fairfax County General Membership Meeting
Time: Tuesday, April 22nd, 7:00 – 9:00 PM
Place: Online, register here.
Details: NAACP Fairfax’s April membership meeting will feature a discussion about the current state of fair housing, led by ERC staff! We’ll discuss the impact of shifting fair housing policy on our community and how we can take action to protect and advance housing equity in our region.
Maryland Commission on Civil Rights: Virtual Panel on Source of Income Protections
Time: Wednesday, April 23rd 12:00 – 1:30 PM
Place: Online, register here.
Details: In Maryland, it is illegal for a housing provider to discriminate against a current or prospective tenant because they use a housing voucher to pay all or a portion of their rent. Nonetheless, such discrimination still occurs. This virtual panel will help renters and housing professionals alike navigate Maryland’s source of income protections, identify possible discrimination, and take action to address it.
Know Your Rights: Navigating Fair Housing Protections for People with Disabilities
Time: Wednesday, April 23rd 12:00 – 1:30 PM
Place: Online, register here.
Details: The City of Alexandria’s Office of Housing and Office of Human Rights are partnering to host a free webinar featuring a presentation by the ERC’s Director of Training and Compliance. Join to gain tools to help you advocate for yourself and other people with disabilities more effectively. The presentation will cover fair housing rights, how to request reasonable accommodations, assistance animals, accessible parking, and resources for addressing housing discrimination.
Equal Rights Center Annual Members Meeting
Time: Friday, April 25th 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM
Place: Equal Rights Center Office, 820 First St. NE, Washington, DC 20002
Details: The theme for our annual meeting is Weathering the Storm: Protecting Civil Rights in 2025. Join us for a complimentary lunch and hear about the work we’ve been doing to uphold civil rights in housing, employment, and public accommodations. We also want to hear from you! Tell us about the fair housing challenges facing you and your community. Please RSVP to attend.
Live in Arlington Information Fair
Time: Saturday, April 26th 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Place: Walter Reed Community Center, 2909 S. 16th St, Arlington, VA 22204
Details: Sponsored by Centro de Apoyo Familiar/Center for Assistance to Families (CAF) and the Arlington County Housing Division, this fair will connect Arlington-area residents with community services. Attend workshops on homebuying, assistance programs, and an ERC-led session about identifying housing discrimination.
Fairfax County Homeownership Forum for People of Color
Time: Saturday, April 26th, 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Place: Gum Springs Community Center, 8100 Fordson Rd, Alexandria, VA 22306
Details: Join the Fairfax County NAACP Branch and Fairfax County Neighborhood and Community Services to learn about the history of racial discrimination in homebuying and get connected to local resources. Childcare is available and a light lunch will be provided. Register to attend.
Anne Arundel County Homeownership Fair
Time: Saturday, April 26th, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Place: The Severn Center, 1160 Reece Rd, Severn, MD 21144
Details: Arundel Community Development Services invites you to this Homeownership Resource Fair, where you’ll have the chance to talk with real estate agents, lenders, and housing counselors. Learn about the current housing market, government financing programs for first-time homebuyers, and more!
Maryland Commission on Civil Rights Fair Housing Forum
Time: Monday, April 28th, 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Place: Howard Community College, 10901 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, MD 21044
Details: Join us for an informative and engaging Fair Housing Forum hosted by the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights. This in-person event will take place at Howard Community College. Learn about fair housing laws, rights, and resources available to you. Whether you are a renter, homeowner, landlord, or advocate, this forum is for you. Don’t miss this opportunity to educate yourself and be part of the conversation on fair housing in Maryland.
GCAAR Profession Session: Policy & Paws
Time: Tuesday, April 29th, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Place: GCAAR Rockville Office, 15201 Diamondback Dr, Rockville, MD 20850
Details: The Greater Capital Area Association of Realtors is hosting a professional session on the intersection of assistance animals and fair housing laws. Members are invited to learn about legal protections, reasonable accommodation requests, and best practices for navigating requests. The session will close with a special visit from therapy dogs! Register to attend.
Economic Action Maryland Fair Housing Conversation and Resource Fair
Time: Wednesday, April 30th, 6:00 – 8:00 PM
Place: Baltimore County Northpoint Library, 1716 Merritt Blvd, Dundalk, MD 21222
Details: Economic Action Maryland’s resource fair promises meaningful discussions about how we can promote equity and inclusivity in our communities. Local organizations will distribute resources and a panel of fair housing experts will empower attendees with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate housing-related challenges. A light dinner provided at 6:00 PM, followed by the panel discussion at 6:30 PM. RSVP to attend.
Arlington Fair Housing Conference
Time: Saturday, May 3rd
Place: Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington, 4444 Arlington Blvd, Arlington, VA 22204
Details: Join the NAACP Arlington Branch, Equal Rights Center, and Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME) of Virginia for the 4th Annual Arlington Fair Housing Conference! The conference will explore the state of fair housing policy and enforcement under the Trump and Youngkin administrations, and the need for local governments in the region to take strong action to protect residents from housing discrimination. Maureen Yap, Vice President of Public Policy and Senior Counsel for Fair Lending at the National Fair Housing Alliance, will deliver keynote remarks. Come be inspired by state and regional nonprofit leaders and local advocates to take action to support fair housing in your community! It’s free, open to the public, and lunch is included. Register here.
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The ERC is a civil rights organization that identifies and seeks to eliminate unlawful and unfair discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations in its home community of Greater Washington DC and nationwide. The ERC’s core strategy for identifying unlawful and unfair discrimination is civil rights testing. When the ERC identifies discrimination, it seeks to eliminate it through the use of testing data to educate the public and business community, support policy advocacy, conduct compliance testing and training, and, if necessary, take enforcement action. For more information, please visit www.equalrightscenter.org.
The work that provided the basis for this publication was supported by funding under a grant with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The substance and findings of the work are dedicated to the public. The author and publisher are solely responsible for the accuracy of the statements and interpretations contained in this publication. Such interpretations do not necessarily reflect the views of the Federal Government.
