By Zack Frink

The first of a new event focusing on eviction, redlining and area trends is coming to Dayton this weekend. The inaugural Dayton Fair Housing Symposium will be held at the Dayton Metro Library main branch this Saturday, Sept. 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The symposium is free to attend registration is at daytonohio.gov/housingsymposium. The Dayton Human Relations Council (HRC) will also provide lunch for all registered attendees.

Erica Fields, executive director for the HRC, said the organization wanted to organize the symposium because of the pressing need locally and nationally.

“National events have highlighted, even more clearly, the importance of our work and the significant challenges we have to overcome as a community to ensure fairness and equity for all,” she said in an emailed statement. “Housing discrimination still exists and in many ways has been exacerbated by COVID-19. In this moment of unprecedented crisis, fair housing is more important than ever.”

Speakers include Mayor Nan Whaley, Miami Valley Fair Housing Center CEO Jim McCarthy and Jeniece Jones, executive director of Housing Opportunities Made Equal.

Attendees will have the opportunity to tour the library’s Undesign the Redline exhibit during the symposium. The symposium won’t stream live on Saturday, but will re-air on DATV and highlights will come to the HRC’s Facebook and YouTube accounts, said Fields.

Looking forward, she would like to see the needle continue moving forward housing equity. “It is important that we continue collective action in addressing impediments and barriers to fair housing,” said Fields. “This may look like progressive advocacy and enforcement and a decrease in the number of discriminatory practices occurring.”

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