The state will create a Fair Housing Review Panel in Springfield in the aftermath of the June 1 tornado.
Raymond A. Jordan, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Regional liaison for Community and Faith-based organizations, left, John Trasvina, assistant secretary for fair housing and equal opportunity for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Marcella Brown, from the Region One office for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, walk down Clark Street in Springfield on Thursday as they toured areas hit by the June 1st tornado prior to a meeting at Springfield City Hall.SPRINGFIELD – State and federal officials, following a new tour of tornado damage in Springfield on Thursday, pledged to serve as a “watchdog” over all rebuilding efforts to protect fair housing, to promote jobs and equal opportunities, and to listen to the community.
The tour and follow-up meeting at City Hall included John Trasvina, assistant secretary for fair housing and equal opportunity for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and representatives of the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination and other agencies.
MCAD Chairman Julian T. Tynes said that a Fair Housing Review Panel will be established in Springfield, with community representatives, serving to prevent and address housing discrimination. The panel will be chaired by MCAD Commissioner Jamie R. Williamson, a Springfield resident living in the tornado path area.
The tornado on June 1 caused a six-mile path of destruction through Springfield stretching from the South End through Sixteen Acres.
Trasvina and various state and federal officials met with regional housing and community development advocates and agencies.
“This is a tremendous opportunity to reshape neighborhoods and really empower people,” Trasvina said. “Now is the opportunity to get it right.”
The Fair Housing Act is a federal law that prohibits discrimination in housing and housing-related services based on factors such as a person’s race, color, familial status or disability.
Agencies working together must ensure that tornado victims have equal and fair access to rent housing, buy homes, obtain credit and services, and to obtain fair appraisals, officials said.
Charles H. Rucks, executive director of Springfield Neighborhood Housing Services Inc., said the disaster was “even-handed,” striking neighborhoods regardless of race, creed and income. Rebuilding efforts, however, thus far do not appear even-handed, as some of the outlying areas are seeing much more construction than the inner-city areas, Rucks said.
Tynes said he also saw the difference, and believes it is of concern and will be addressed by the panel.
Tynes said it is better to have a panel working to prevent housing discrimination rather than having 150 to 200 people filing complaints.