News Release for Immediate Release March 31, 2006 DHCD Presents Fifth Annual DC Fair Housing Symposium    (Washington, DC) In celebration of Fair Housing Month, the DC Department of Housing and Community Development has partnered with the DC Housing Finance Agency and DC Housing Authority to present the fifth annual Fair Housing Symposium. This free event will be held on April 20 from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm at the DC Housing Finance Agency, located at 815 Florida Avenue, NW. This year’s theme is “Know Your Rights…In Case They Don’t!” Attendees will be informed on their rights when renting or purchasing a home, as well as how to identify discrimination based on race, color or national origin, familial status, sex, disability or religion. Our luncheon speaker, Okianer C. Dark, Professor of Law at Howard University, is a renowned legal scholar and a fair housing advocate. The symposium also features three panels: PANEL 1: Show Me the Money! Lending, Credit and Fair Housing Topics will include: predatory tactics used by mortgage brokers, lenders and other financial institutions; good credit and its legacy on wealth building; ‘truths and myths’ of credit; and credit scores in at-risk communities. PANEL 2: Fact and Fiction: Family, Income and Sex Discrimination Panelists will explain the "Familial Status and Sex" protections under the law and draw links between these federal protections and the District’s own “Source of Income” protection. PANEL 3: Is Access Really Accessible? Obstacles and Opportunities for People with Disabilities Panel guests will discuss affordability, terrain, architecture, biases and their effect on accessibility; “reasonable accommodations” for federal and privately financed multifamily buildings; and homeownership opportunities for persons with disabilities. You must register to attend. Registrations will close once maximum capacity is reached. For more information on call (202) 777-1614, visit register online for either Individuals or Organizations. Please state if you need any special accommodations. Space is limited. Register early.