The City of Austin will be hosting their 3rd annual Fair Housing Conference & Resource Hub on April 16, 2025 at the Holiday Inn Midtown. This free event is open to the public, and Austinites are invited to join policymakers, practitioners, advocates, and community members to share ideas and discuss current fair housing issues.  The all-day conference will feature expert-led panel discussions and a Housing Resource Hub filled with valuable community support services.  Bryan Snoddy, Civil Rights Division Director with Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), will be the keynote speaker. Register to attend the Fair Housing Conference & Resource Hub at www.SpeakUpAustin.org/FairHousing.

“The 2025 The Fair Housing Conference is a vital event where stakeholders can come together to share insights and discuss current issues surrounding Fair Housing,” said Dr. Lindsey Wilson, Director of the Office of Equity and Inclusion. “It provides a venue where we can all come together to address the unique housing challenges community members in Austin face.”

The Fair Housing Act is the landmark civil rights law signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson on April 11, 1968. The Fair Housing Act made discrimination in housing transactions unlawful and prohibits discrimination in housing because of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, and familial status. It intends to provide fair housing throughout the country.  

"Fair Housing is foundational to eliminating housing discrimination and promoting economic opportunity for all,” explains Mandy DeMayo, Interim Director for the Housing Department. “This conference allows us to bring housing resources together in one place and give space for collaborative discussions on the housing needs we have across Austin.”   

The Office of Equity and Inclusion collaborated with the Housing Department for the third annual conference.  The Housing Resource Hub connects community organizations with residents who need support across a variety of housing needs – including tenant rights, legal services, affordable homeownership, home repair, down payment assistance, and utility services. Additional speaker topics include:

• Fundamentals of Fair Housing
• Evolution of Housing in Austin
• Fair Housing Legal Updates
• The Untold Story of Evictions in Austin, Texas
• Innovation and Strategies to Address Homelessness
• Travis County Analysis of Impediments of Fair Housing
• Fair Housing Testing
• Fair Housing Reasonable Accommodation/Modifications
• Changes in Real Estate Commissions and How it Affects Buyers

2025 City of Austin Fair Housing Conference & Resource Hub  – free and open to the public 

• Location: Wednesday, April 16, 2025 at the Holiday Inn Midtown located at 6000 Middle Fiskville Rd, Austin, TX 78752
• Panel Sessions: 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. (includes free breakfast & lunch)
• Housing Resource Hub: 2 – 6 p.m.

For assistance registering, residents can also email civilrights@austintexas.gov  or call 512-974-3251 by Friday, April 14, 2025 to reserve their spot.