Press Release: UCLA and DFEH Create Fair Housing Materials for Underserved Communities with Limited English Proficiency

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 20, 2018

Media Contact: Veena Hampapur, veenash@ucla.edu, (310) 489-3957

UCLA and DFEH Create Fair Housing Materials for
Underserved Communities with Limited English Proficiency
Multilingual educational booklet released during Fair Housing Month

LOS ANGELES – The UCLA Labor Center, a unit of the Institute for Research on Labor and Employment, and California’s Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) collaborated to produce Know Your Top Fair Housing Rights, a multilingual booklet addressing a critical need in California for culturally attuned fair housing resources. Its release coincides with Fair Housing Month and the 50th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act of 1968.

“California is home to more immigrants than any other state, and we have a substantial population with limited English proficiency,” said Tia Koonse, the Legal and Policy Research Manager at the UCLA Labor Center. “These communities are particularly vulnerable to housing discrimination, and we wanted to provide an easy-to-read resource in relevant languages.”

Given that Asian and Latino communities comprise 53% of the state’s population, the booklet offers educational materials in the most commonly spoken languages (in addition to English): Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.

“Many people never report housing discrimination because they are unaware of the law and face language barriers,” explained Jeylee Quiroz, an assistant researcher at the UCLA Labor Center. “We hope this booklet will help tenants and housing providers understand housing rights and protections in California and the role of the DFEH.”

The booklet highlights prohibitions against discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, as well as examples of common fair housing law violations. Additionally, it explains the mission of the DFEH and encourages those who have experienced inequities to call, visit, or submit a complaint form online to the DFEH.

Download the booklet: http://bit.ly/CAhousingrights

**Please contact Veena Hampapur to schedule interviews with booklet creators.**

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The UCLA Labor Center believes that a public university belongs to the people and should advance quality education and employment for all. Every day we bring together workers, students, faculty, and policymakers to address the most critical issues facing working people today. Our research, education, and policy work lifts industry standards, creates jobs that are good for communities, and strengthens immigrant rights, especially for students and youth. The UCLA Labor Center is housed in the Institute for Research on Labor and Employment, a multidisciplinary research center dedicated to the study, teaching, and discussion of labor and employment issues at UCLA.

The DFEH is the state agency charged with enforcing California’s civil rights laws. The mission of the DFEH is to protect the people of California from unlawful discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations and from hate violence and human trafficking. For more information, visit the DFEH’s web site at www.dfeh.ca.gov.