Webinar: Nuisance Abatement Ordinances, Fair Housing, and Data: Keeping Housing Both Safe and Fair

In this free webinar, hosted by the Office on Violence Against Women, experts will discuss the impact of nuisance abatement ordinances, crime-free housing ordinances, and crime-free housing programs. They will explain how HUD’s new Fair Housing Act guidance applies to the enforcement of these ordinances and programs. Chief of Police Mark Talbot of Norristown, PA, will share Norristown’s experience with nuisance abatement ordinances and how the city reduced crime by replacing their nuisance abatement ordinance with a data-driven approach to policing.

When: November 16, 2016, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.  Eastern time.

Where: Online

Who should attend: Law enforcement and other civic leaders who want to understand how to avoid the unintended consequences of nuisance abatement ordinances, crime-free housing ordinances, and crime-free housing programs. Law enforcement officers who want to learn how others are using data to target the problems that nuisance ordinances and crime-free housing programs are meant to address.

What you will learn: The downside of nuisance abatement ordinances for victims of domestic violence, how HUD’s recent guidance applies to the enforcement of ordinances against victims of domestic violence and other crimes, and how Norristown, PA reduced crime by replacing their nuisance ordinance with a data-driven approach to policing.

Part 1:  An overview of the impact of nuisance abatement ordinances on victims of domestic violence and other vulnerable populations.  15 minutes.

Sandra Park, Senior Attorney, ACLU Women’s Rights Project.

Part 2:  A review of HUD’s “Office of General Counsel Guidance on Application of Fair Housing Act Standards to the Enforcement of Local Nuisance and Crime-Free Housing Ordinances Against Victims of Domestic Violence, Other Crime Victims, and Others Who Require Police or Other Emergency Services,” with an emphasis on what law enforcement and local officials need to know about the implementation and enforcement or ordinances.  15 minutes

Jeanine Worden, Associate General Counsel for Fair Housing, HUD.

Part 3: An overview of Norristown, PA’s experience with nuisance abatement ordinances and how the city reduced crime when it replaced its nuisance ordinances with a data-driven approach to policing. 15 minutes.

Mark Talbot, Chief of Police, Norristown (PA) Police Department

Part 4: Q & A with the presenters.  15 minutes, but note:  Presenters will be available for an extra 30 minutes for participants who have additional questions and wish to stay on the line.

Accessibility: Live-streaming ASL interpretation will be provided for the webinar.

How to Participate: There is no registration process. Simply join the webinar at: https://ovw.adobeconnect.com/webinar/. We suggest joining a few minutes early to ensure the webinar works on your computer.

Audio will not play over your computer speakers. For audio, dial 641-714-0700. When prompted, enter the participant code: 577787#.

During the webinar, you can participate via the webinar’s “chat” feature or over the phone.

Learn more about HUD’s recent guidance on the FHA and nuisance abatement ordinances, crime-free housing ordinances, and crime-free housing programs at: http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/press/press_releases_media_advisories/2016/HUDNo_16-134