For Immediate Release:
Ashley White, Equal Rights Center, 202.370.3204
awhite@equalrightscenter.org

ERC’s Multifamily Housing Resource Program Launches E-Learning Services

WASHINGTON, D.C., August 31, 2011 Today the Multifamily Housing Resource Program (MHRP), a membership program led by the Equal Rights Center (ERC) for multifamily housing developers and consultants, launched its new e-learning facility. The training, A Guide to Multifamily Housing Accessibility, is offered exclusively to MHRP members and is made available through the MHRP website: mhrp.equalrightscenter.org.

“The e-learning facility is a tremendous tool to expand the knowledge of individuals at all stages of the housing development process on the requirements of the Fair Housing Act (FHA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) that affect their work,” said MHRP Project Manager, Victoria Lanteigne. “With this on-line training, the MHRP and its members move one step closer to the goal of ensuring that accessible housing is a reality for all.”

The MHRP was founded as a proactive collaboration between the ERC and multifamily housing developers to increase the number of residential housing units in the United States that are accessible to persons with disabilities, and to enhance housing industry compliance with federal, state, and local accessibility laws. The MHRP’s highly-trained staff conducts trainings, reviews policies, advises on “best practices,” and helps monitor FHA and ADA compliance. Membership currently includes nine multifamily housing developers representing more than 500,000 housing units nationwide, and Steven Winter Associates, Inc., a national architecture, engineering and building systems consulting firm.

The MHRP will continue to offer in-person training to executives, management, design and construction teams, and other members’ staff working with accessibility and fair housing issues. The e-learning facility provides a basic overview to help raise fair housing awareness and maintain legal compliance with accessibility laws. The training covers:

• Fair Housing law, focusing specifically on rights protected by the Fair Housing Act (FHA) and other human rights laws;

• Housing Accessibility, focusing on FHA and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility requirements in the design and construction of multifamily housing; and

• Fair Housing policies and best practices for compliance with FHA and ADA regulations.

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About the Equal Rights Center (www.equalrightscenter.org)
Originally formed in 1983, the Equal Rights Center (ERC) is a national non-profit civil rights organization based in Washington, D.C.  With members located in 48 states and the District of Columbia, the ERC works nationally to promote equal opportunity in housing, employment, disability rights, immigrant rights, and access to public accommodations and government services for all protected classes under federal, state, and local laws.