Housing Fair Housing
Capital Campaign

For over 25 years, the Fair Housing Center (FHC) has served as the sole provider of crucial services to the West Michigan area. Its mission: to eliminate practices of housing discrimination and promote diverse, open communities through education and advocacy. Over the years, the agency has evolved to meet the needs of a growing population and developing community. Now, it is poised to assume an even greater and more visible role in housing advocacy.

Increasing Capacity. The Fair Housing Center is engaged in a Capital Campaign to fund the renovation of a commercial building located in central Grand Rapids. The building - a former bank branch - was a gift from Chase (formerly Bank One) of Grand Rapids. When it is completed, the new facility will offer increased capacity to deliver fair housing education and enforcement as well as increased visibility in a prime location.

Improving Visibility and Accessibility.Situated at the corner of Hall and Division streets, the new facility will bring greater visibility and improved accessibility to the FHC. It is more than three times larger than the current leased space and will include onsite parking. It will also include meeting space with capacity for over 50 people, making it possible for the FHC to offer fair housing training onsite. The meeting space will also be available to community partners for meetings and special events.

Expanding Education and Outreach. Training workshops and seminars are an essential component of the FHC strategy to combat housing discrimination. Each year, the Center's staff provides fair housing education to over 500 individuals working in the housing industry. The Center also provides valuable information to hundreds of consumers annually on their rights and responsibilities under federal, state and local fair housing laws. The new facility will offer space for two additional staff members - one to work in education and outreach, and the other in enforcement. The FHC promotes compliance with fair housing laws by assisting home seekers in the investigation and resolution of complaints of housing discrimination. Each year, the FHC investigates over 150 complaints relating to housing sales and rental, lending, insurance and advertising.

Opening Doors to Housing Choice. Housing Fair Housing is an ambitious undertaking with a campaign goal of one million dollars. The Center is well on its way thanks to generous support from Chase, area foundations, partners in the housing industry, and individuals who support the Fair Housing mission. Your gift will help build a solid future for the Fair Housing Center and advance its role in the community. Most importantly, your gift will open doors to housing choice in West Michigan.

This campaign will provide a new home for the Fair Housing Center and enable it to:

• Expand services to ten counties surrounding Kent County and along the lakeshore
• Work with over 1,000 housing industry personnel annually
• Train hundreds of service agency staff and community members
• Respond to over 2,000 telephone calls and referrals per year
• Investigate over 150 housing discrimination cases each year
• Accommodate two more full-time staff members

Many thanks to our donors and partners to date:

Find out about our
Annual Fair Housing Luncheon & Workshop Series

20 Hall Street SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49507
Tel: (616) 451-2980, Toll Free: 1-866-389-FAIR
Fax: (616) 451-2657 email: contact-us@fhcwm.org