In an effort to increase awareness regarding fair housing practices in the county, Harlan County Judge-Executive Joe Grieshop signed a proclamation Tuesday declaring April as “Fair Housing Month.”

“What we are trying to do with this proclamation is to put the word out, for those who qualify, that there is an opportunity for homeownership. We want them to know that the opportunity is there,” Grieshop said. “The key thing is that for the price someone is paying for rent, they could own a home.”

The proclamation signed by Grieshop states, “Whereas, April 14, 2009, marks the 41st anniversary of the passage of the U.S. Fair Housing Law, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, as amended, which enunciated a national policy of fair housing without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, sex, familial status and handicap and encourages fair housing opportunities for all citizens; and whereas fair housing laws apply to persons viewing or renting an apartment, viewing or purchasing a home, applying for or securing a loan or purchasing homeowners or renters insurance; and whereas in order that all who live here may exercise these rights, maintaining and preserving the for the future, it is necessary for us all to know how to protect our fair housing rights; and whereas ‘Fair Housing Month’ is time set aside each year to remind Americans that we not only have the right to own and rent property, but it is an individual responsibility to guard this right from any infringement.

“When you come to COAP and need work on your house, we treat you fairly, no matter what your situation is,” said Frank Stoffle, the director for the Christian Outreach for Appalachian People (COAP). “We are always looking for people who qualify to build them a house or fix their house.”

According to Stoffle the COAP will build its 200th new house in Harlan County this summer and have rehabbed almost 1,300 houses. He added that the organization has also received funding to build 15 new homes.

“There is no reason that a low-income family shouldn’t have the same chances of a middle-income family. We don’t just give houses away — everyone pays back something,” Stoffle said. “The reason for that is that everyone should have the dignity to be able to tell their neighbors that they paid for their house. The payments and interest rate may be low, but they pay it back.”

Grieshop said the program helps to give low-income families home ownership and could improve the quality of homes located within the county overall.

Harlan County households that include one or two persons with a gross annual income of less that $61,440 and households with three or more persons with an annual income of less that $71,680 qualify for assistance.

“With us (COAP) you just don’t have that big down payment. We can grant up to $35,000 that if they live in the house for 10 years that $35,000 goes away, but they will have to pay the rest of it,” said Charlotte Saylor, the housing counselor with COAP.

Fair housing laws are dictated by state and federal laws that prohibit discrimination against any person because of race, color, religion, sex, disability, family status or national origin and apply to real estate agents, builders, insurers, brokers and lenders.

Officials from COAP will be at the Harlan Wal-Mart on April 24 from 9:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. sharing information about fair housing and the assistance they provide.

For more information about COAP Inc. or fair housing, call Saylor or Audrey Farrow at 573-9853.