Columbia, MD. (May 1, 2024) – In observance of National Fair Housing Month in April, the Howard County Association of REALTORS® (HCAR) offered educational opportunities and activities to raise awareness of the importance of access to housing for all.
To kick off the month, HCAR partnered with Howard County Executive Dr. Calvin Ball, who issued a proclamation declaring April as Fair Housing Month in Howard County.
“For 57 years, the Fair Housing Act has stood as a pillar of justice, ensuring that no one is denied housing based on who they are,” Dr. Ball said. “Today, we celebrate that legacy and continue the work to make housing accessible to all.”
Dr. Ball highlighted Howard County initiatives that help ensure everyone has a place to call home, including HOME (Housing Opportunities are Meant for Everyone) and OWN (Opportunities for Wealth-Building Now), as well as a $15 million investment in the Housing Opportunities Trust Fund to help families access stable, secure housing.
“Fair Housing Month is a powerful reminder that equal access to housing is not just a policy – it’s a principle that defines who we are as an industry,” said 2025 HCAR President Jimmie Jennings. “As REALTORS®, we have a responsibility to uphold fairness, fight discrimination, and ensure that every individual can live where they choose, free from bias. HCAR’s commitment to fair housing strengthens communities and builds a more just and inclusive future.”
During the month, HCAR hosted three continuing education opportunities designed to equip real estate professionals with the tools and knowledge they need to best serve their clients and protect their rights under fair housing law.
On April 8, HCAR hosted the “Bias Override: Overcoming Barriers to Fair Housing” course, which is a National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) certificate course that helps real estate professionals interrupt stereotypical thinking so they can avoid fair housing pitfalls and provide equal professional service to every customer or client.
On April 14, HCAR hosted the “Language Matters: Inclusive Business Practices” course, which emphasizes the importance of inclusive business practices and language and helps real estate professionals discover the power of creating a real estate experience with language and practices that are welcoming, respectful, and free from bias. This course was offered in partnership with the Central Maryland Chapter of the LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance.
On April 22, HCAR hosted the “At Home With Diversity” course, which is an NAR certification that is designed to enable real estate professionals to work successfully with and within a rapidly changing multicultural market. Students are taught to learn diversity sensitivity, how it applies to fair housing laws in their business, and ways to develop professional guidelines for working with clients.
HCAR representatives at the 2025 Consumer Housing Fair at the Owen Brown Interfaith Center in Columbia. (From left) Rita Williams, HCAR's Operations & Education Administrator; Michelle Pennington, REALTOR® and Fair Housing Committee Member; Joy Epps, REALTOR® and Fair Housing Committee Chair; and Michelle Williams, REALTOR® and Fair Housing Committee Vice Chair.
To educate consumers, HCAR hosted its 2nd Annual Consumer Housing Resource Fair on April 12 at the Owen Brown Interfaith Center in Columbia. This free event was open to all consumers interested in homeownership and offered an opportunity to get all the information needed to make the process easier and gain a better understanding of their rights under fair housing law. Local government and charitable organizations that provide housing-related services to the public were provided a complimentary booth to distribute information and answer questions.
Finally, HCAR certified three new Agent of Change designees during Fair Housing Month – Tina Hyatt, Monica Welborn-Code, and Sherman Gray. The Agents of Change Program is an HCAR designation given to those agents who go above and beyond to demonstrate their commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
For more information about Fair Housing Resources, visit the Consumer section of our website at www.hcar.org.
HCAR representatives are presented with a proclamation declaring April as Fair Housing Month in Howard County. (From left) Anne Cooke, REALTOR® and Fair Housing Committee Member; Michelle Williams, REALTOR® and Fair Housing Committee Vice Chair; Jimmie Jennings, REALTOR® and 2025 HCAR President; Brian Shepter, Deputy Chief of Staff for Howard County Executive Dr. Calvin Ball; and Joy Epps, REALTOR® and Fair Housing Committee Chair.
More about the Howard County Association of REALTORS®
The Howard County Association of REALTORS® is fortunate enough to represent over 2,000 real estate professionals in Howard County. HCAR’s mission is to advance Howard County’s real estate industry by shaping public policy on real property issues; and encouraging, promoting, and teaching consistent standards for ethical practice and professionalism for our REALTOR® members.
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Media Contact
Sarah Rayne, CAE, RCE, AOC, AHWD, ePRO, C2EX
Chief Executive Officer
Howard County Association of REALTORS®
410-715-1437
