MULTIFAMILY HOUSING RESOURCE PROGRAM
About Us
ERC’s Multi-Family Housing Resource Program (MHRP) offers membership based and on demand services to corporate clients who are ready to take action on our shared position that civil rights is the right thing to do, and it’s good for business.
We designed MHRP to assist and guide the private sector in maintaining compliance with a variety of civil rights laws by providing training, compliance testing, and best practices based technical assistance* to corporate clients ranging from small landlords to large, national companies.
ERC launched MHRP in 2008 and it grew over the next 10 years to a membership of nearly 20 large multi-family housing providers. The program initially focused on accessibility requirements in multi-family housing. In 2024, we relaunched MHRP with an expanded focus on all fair housing issues and an open opportunity for membership. Since 2016, the ERC has trained over 14,000 employees from over 50 multifamily housing providers across the country and conducted over 500 fair housing compliance tests for corporate clients.
Combining our expertise with the insight we gain from developing long-term relationships with our corporate clients mutually amplifies our shared abilities to promote equal access and opportunity for all.
Our Services
ERC helps our corporate, government, and non-profit clients understand and maintain compliance with civil rights laws. Our expertise covers federal fair housing and accessibility requirements, local protections against other forms of housing discrimination in the DC region, and how issues arise for our clients in the day–to–day operations of their businesses. We offer the following compliance and training services:
The ERC’s online learning platform offers interactive courses that you can complete at your own pace. You can find our current course catalogue here; we can also develop new content upon request. Does your company offer e-learning through an in-house platform? We can license our content to you for use on your online learning system.
We also offer live, interactive classes either in-person or via webinar. Our most popular course, General Fair Housing, covers applicable federal and local fair housing laws & best practices, and provides time for course attendees to interact with our experts during the 3.5-hour course. The course content is suitable for leasing agents, property management, maintenance technicians, and more. Do you need customized course content? We can do that too! For more information about our live training opportunities please contact us.
Civil Rights Testing—sometimes referred to as “mystery shopping” is an investigative tool we use to compare conduct to legal requirements or a policy. In involves one or more people—“testers”—engaging in a transaction or interaction, usually covertly. Matched pair testing is one type of civil rights test that compares treatment between two people based on one variable because all other differences are controlled for.
Testing allows us to measure your company’s compliance with civil rights requirements and offer targeted recommendations to resolve any problems that testing uncovers. Many of our clients use testing to evaluate the efficacy of training their employees receive.
The ERC provides best practices based technical assistance. This assistance is designed to maximize access for residents in alignment with the spirit of fair housing laws; for that reason, it will in many instances go beyond the minimum requirements of the law. Through past technical assistance engagements, we have reviewed client policy manuals and trainings delivered internally. The ERC does not give legal advice, including advice on the minimum requirements for complying with the law or assistance applying the law to a specific set of facts. For legal advice, please consult with an attorney.
Joining the Multifamily Housing Resource Program
In most instances, joining MHRP as a member offers our clients the most value, but we also offer on demand services on an ad hoc basis as the need arises. As membership benefits, all MHRP members receive:
- Membership recognition on ERC’s website,
- Access to quarterly calls about fair housing updates,
- Ad hoc email updates about fair housing issues,
- Access to our annual MHRP meeting, and
- Significantly discounted pricing on training, compliance testing, and technical assistance services, as detailed below:
| Corporate Client (on-demand, no MHRP membership) | Associate | Ambassador | Ally | Advocate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Membership Recognition | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Receive fair housing updates through quarterly calls and emails | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Access to the annual MHRP Meeting | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Access to the General Fair Housing E-Learning Course and Resource Library | 33% discount | 33% discount | Included (no additional charge) | Included (no additional charge) | |
| Live 3-hour Fair Housing Training | Full price | Full price | 5% discount | 10% discount | 15% discount |
| Live Presentation | Full price | Full price | 5% discount | 10% discount | 15% discount |
| Customized Training | Full price | Full price | 5% discount | 10% discount | 15% discount |
| Compliance Testing | Full price | Full price | 5% discount | 10% discount | 15% discount |
| Best Practices Technical Assistance | Contact for quote | 1 hour | 2 hours | 3 hours | 3 hours |
Here’s How It Works
Step 1: Get in touch with us to determine which membership tier makes sense for you and your needs.
Step 2: Become a member and select the services your company needs.
Step 3: Pay your membership fee! You’ll immediately gain access to membership benefits, and we’ll apply the membership fee toward the cost of services you selected.
Step 4: Watch as your company or organization benefits from our services! If you selected services that exceed the membership fee for the tier you selected, we’ll invoice you for those using the discounted rate available to members in your tier!
Benefits of MHRP Membership
ERC’s Multi-Family Housing Resource Program (MHRP) offers membership based and on demand services to corporate clients who are ready to take action on our shared position that civil rights is the right thing to do, and it’s good for business.
We designed MHRP to assist and guide the private sector in maintaining compliance with a variety of civil rights laws by providing training, compliance testing, and best practices based technical assistance* to corporate clients ranging from small landlords to large, national companies.
ERC launched MHRP in 2008 and it grew over the next 10 years to a membership of nearly 20 large multi-family housing providers. The program initially focused on accessibility requirements in multi-family housing. In 2024, we relaunched MHRP with an expanded focus on all fair housing issues and an open opportunity for membership. Since 2016, the ERC has trained over 14,000 employees from over 50 multifamily housing providers across the country and conducted over 500 fair housing compliance tests for corporate clients.
Combining our expertise with the insight we gain from developing long-term relationships with our corporate clients mutually amplifies our shared abilities to promote equal access and opportunity for all.
Trainee Testimonials
This training advocates for all people to be treated equally and aligns with my values. It empowers me to provide better service with pride.
As a business specialist, I support in the screening process and reviewing applications. This training will ensure that myself and my team are able to stay in compliance with fair housing laws.
Empowered me to feel more confident about the information provided and how to approach sensitive topics humanely with professionalism.
[This training] will allow me to continue to provide the best service as a housing provider and ensure all individuals are treated equally and respectfully as we all should be.
Get to Know Us!
Brian McKenzie is currently the Director of Training & Compliance at the Equal Rights Center (ERC). He joined the ERC in 2016 and is responsible for leading the ERC’s Multifamily Housing Resource Program (MHRP). He coordinates compliance services including fair housing training and testing for the ERC’s corporate partners. Prior to joining the ERC, Brian worked as a Research Associate and Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Coordinator at Fair Housing Contact Service in Akron, Ohio. Brian is originally from York, Pennsylvania, and holds a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Pittsburgh. As a team, Brian and Becca have led over 600 trainings, educating more than 16,000 housing professionals since 2016.
Becca Waxman joined the ERC in April 2022 and serves as a Training Specialist, conducting fair housing trainings for corporate partners. Becca started her fair housing work at the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center, then spent several years as a case manager helping individuals with disabilities and those experiencing houselessness connect to resources. Most recently, Becca worked as a labor organizer in the Gulf Coast. She is a graduate of Indiana University where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Jewish Studies.
Kate Scott is the ERC’s Executive Director. She joined the ERC in 2015 as the Director of Fair Housing and immediately led a large scale testing investigation to uncover race and gender based discrimination against housing applicants with criminal records. She was promoted to Deputy Director in 2017, before becoming Executive Director in 2020.
Prior to joining the ERC, Kate worked in a variety of roles at the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center, starting as an intern and tester. Her particular professional passions are strategic communications, leadership development, and effective program management. Kate received her Bachelor’s degree with honors from Loyola University New Orleans. She was pursuing a PhD in Sociology at UCLA when the Hurricane Katrina disaster began, and returned to New Orleans to address the housing crisis exacerbated by it.
Sara Surface joined the ERC in November 2019 and serves as the Deputy Director. In this role, they oversee the ERC’s fair housing, accessibility, employment, and strategic initiatives testing investigations and advance quality control in the testing program. Prior to joining the ERC, Sara worked as the Fair Housing Enforcement Manager for Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME) of Virginia. In this role, she oversaw the testing program, managed systemic investigations, and worked on some of the nation’s first fair housing cases focused on enforcement of the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s 2016 Criminal History Guidance. Prior to their work in civil rights testing, Sara worked in sexual assault prevention and response at the campus and community levels. Sara is a graduate of the University of Virginia, and has a Bachelor’s degree in Global Development Studies and Women, Gender, and Sexuality.
*The ERC does not offer legal advice, and information obtained through our training, consulting, compliance testing, or any other service should not be construed as such. For legal advice, please contact an attorney.
