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March 2014 - In This Issue:
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April is Fair Housing Month!
April marks the 46th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act of 1968. The Act is intended to guarantee all citizens -- regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status or handicap -- equal access to housing.

Fair Housing Training
Regional fair housing training courses and seminars scheduled throughout the month of April: 
 
Free! Fair Housing Accessibility Training -- Design and Construction Requirements of the Fair Housing Act

April 1 │ 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m │Hampton

Free! Fair Housing Disability Seminar: Reasonable Accommodations & Reasonable Modifications
 
April 2 │ 8:30 a.m. - noon │Hampton
 
Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act / Fair Housing Review
 
April 10 │ 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. │ Virginia Beach
 
Free! Virginia Fair Housing Law with a Twist

April 15 │ 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. │ Virginia Beach

More training courses listed at www.vbgov.com/fair-housing
Fair Housing Resources

Housing Opportunities Made Equal of Virginia, Inc.

(804) 354-0641

TDD: Virginia Relay 7-1-1 

Virginia Fair Housing Office

1-888-551-3247

TDD: Virginia Relay 7-1-1

Fair Housing Handbook
* Now Available! Manual de Vivienda Justa (Spanish Version)
Regional Conference Re-energizes Those Working to End Homelessness 
On March 11, more than 250 people gathered at Old Dominion University's Webb Center for the 2014 South Hampton Roads Regional Conference on Ending Homelessness. Attendees represented nonprofit organizations, government agencies and the faith community from across the region and state. 
Andrew Friedman, director of Housing & Neighborhood Preservation, provided an update on the task force's efforts and highlighted nine years of progress towards ending homelessness made possible through regional collaboration. 
The event was the fifth conference presented by the South Hampton Roads Regional Task Force to End Homelessness, a collaboration between the Cities of Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Suffolk; Isle of Wight County; The Planning Council, United Way of South Hampton Roads and nonprofit organizations throughout the region.

  

The conference is held every two years to provide a forum for sharing national best practices and promoting strategic planning. The event featured case management training designed specifically for service providers, and workshops and presentations on services for veterans, education of homeless children, health and housing legislation updates, using data for planning and evaluation, and more.
 
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Code Enforcement Tips for Spring
Despite what the thermometer shows, spring is officially here! If you are planning on doing some spring cleaning, Code Enforcement wants you to keep a few tips in mind before you roll up your sleeves and get out those brooms, dust pans and gardening tools:
Waste Disposal
  • Exercise proper waste disposal practices when cleaning out attics, garages and sheds. Regular household trash can be placed in city-provided containers and set out for collection no later than 7 a.m. on the scheduled collection day. Curbside collection of yard waste in clear plastic bags and small, four-foot piles of limbs occurs each scheduled collection day as well.
  • When getting rid of larger items, such as old furniture and household appliances, residents should call Waste Management at 385-4650 and schedule a bulk item collection for your next scheduled collection day. Waste Management does not pick up the following items: building materials, carpet, doors, cabinets, toilets, sinks, rocks, dirt, concrete, vehicle parts, tires, paint cans, glass, propane tanks and hazardous materials. Residents can dispose of these items directly at two city landfill facilities free of charge.
  • The city encourages residents to recycle and provides curbside collection of recyclables every other week in most areas.
For more information on waste disposal regulations and approved recyclable materials, contact Waste Management at 385-4650.
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Lawn Care & Property Maintenance
  • Unkempt lawns and weeds are not only unsightly, but they can also serve as an inviting playground for rodents and vermin. To prevent potential infestations, residents are required to keep their yards maintained in accordance with the city code. Grass and weeds taller than 10 inches must be cut, and all trash, junk and debris stored on your property must be properly disposed of using the waste disposal tips listed above.
  • Improperly maintained swimming pools can provide a breeding ground for mosquitoes, which can spread disease. Be sure to maintain your swimming pools and filtration systems to prevent mosquito infestations during the warmer months. 
  • Code Enforcement recommends residents have the health of large trees on their property evaluated by a licensed professional on a regular basis. Proactive and consistent maintenance of trees can help prevent costly work and removals when trees are deemed hazardous.  
By taking these steps this spring and throughout the year, we can help keep Virginia Beach neighborhoods vibrant, safe and beautiful places to live. For more information on the city's property maintenance code requirements, contact Code Enforcement at 385-4421.
 
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fair housing logoVIRGINIA BEACH HOUSING AND NEIGHBORHOOD PRESERVATION DOES BUSINESS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FEDERAL FAIR HOUSING LAW AND SECTION 504 PROGRAM ACCESSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS. THE DEPARTMENT COMPLIES WITH THE FAIR HOUSING ACT AND PROVIDES REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS AND MODIFICATIONS TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES. VIRGINIA BEACH HOUSING AND NEIGHBORHOOD PRESERVATION DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE ON THE BASES OF RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, SEX, DISABILITY, FAMILIAL STATUS, NATIONAL ORIGIN, SEXUAL ORIENTATION OR GENDER IDENTITY IN ADMISSION OR ACCESS TO ITS PROGRAMS.