Outreach & Education

Fair Housing Training

Available Workshops

A central part of the mission of the Metropolitan St. Louis Equal Housing & Opportunity Council (EHOC) is educating people about their rights and responsibilities under fair housing laws. We do this by staffing information booths at community fairs and festivals; conducting “Know Your Rights” workshops with communities who may encounter discrimination; and training professionals in the housing social service fields on fair housing.

In addition to standard workshops, EHOC can also tailor a presentation to match your group or organization’s needs.

EHOC is currently not scheduling workshops or presentations.

A 1-hour presentation suitable for community groups, advocacy groups, shelter residents, social service agency staff, home-buyers, and other members of the general public. The workshop provides a basic introduction to Fair Housing and landlord-tenant law and gives real-world examples of housing discrimination.

A 3-hour presentation for landlords, leasing agents, maintenance staff, shelter staff, supportive living staff, and others who provide housing. Participants learn about the history and background of the Fair Housing Act as well as the protected classes under federal, state, and local laws, and gain an understanding of the impact of discrimination on our society and how to apply the laws to their profession.

A 1-hour educational workshop for community groups, advocacy groups, or other organizations. Attendees learn about the history and legacy of segregation in the St. Louis area as an entry to comparing racial and concentrated poverty changes before and after the 2008 financial collapse. Using a 2015 study from Rutgers University, this workshop shows how the banking collapse and foreclosure crisis severely impacted Black household wealth.

A 3-hour training for local elected officials, planning and zoning commissioners and staff, code enforcement staff / building inspectors, community development staff, and other local government personnel. Participants learn about the history and background of the Fair Housing Act as well as the protected classes under federal, state, and local laws, and gain an understanding of the impact of discrimination on our society and how to apply the laws to their profession. Participants will learn about significant fair housing cases involving local governments. The presenter will show how fair housing issues impact local decisions on planning, zoning, code enforcement, building code adoption, and occupancy standards.

A 3-hour training for management, caseworkers, maintenance, development staff, Section 8 program staff, and other staff of public housing authorities. Participants learn about the history and background of the Fair Housing Act as well as the protected classes under federal, state, and local laws, and gain an understanding of the impact of discrimination on our society and how to apply the laws to their profession. Participants will learn about additional civil rights protections in federally subsidized housing, including the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and regulations on providing equal access to persons with Limited English Proficiency.

Fair Housing for Various Populations

  • People with disabilities
  • Immigrants and Refugees
  • Formerly Incarcerated Individuals
  • LGBTQ Communities
  • People experiencing Homelessness
  • Domestic Violence Survivors
  • Older Adults/Seniors
  • Families with Children
  • Publicly-Subsidized Housing Residents
  • First-Time Home-Buyers
  • Senior and Assisted Living Communities
  • Homeless Shelters and Transitional Housing
  • Real Estate Advertising
  • Sexual Harrasment, Domestic Violence, and Gender Discrimination
  • Nuisance Ordinances
  • Fair Lending and the Community Reinvestment Act
  • Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing
  • Design and Construction Requirements of the Fair Housing Act