WEEK 9

Housing Discrimination

The New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD) prohibits discrimination when selling or renting property. The law covers owners, agents, employees and brokers and makes it unlawful to refuse to rent, show or sell property based on a person's race, creed, color, national origin, nationality, ancestry, marital status, domestic partnership or civil union status, familial status, affection or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, sex, or mental and physical disability, including AIDS and HIV-related illness.

The National Fair Housing Alliance is dedicated to ending housing discrimination and fostering diverse, inclusive communities through advocacy.  NFHA’s public policy team weighs in with the federal government to create and affect policy that expands equal access to fair housing choice for all.  NFHA supports policy initiatives that advance our goals of eliminating discrimination in housing and expand equal access to homeownership opportunities.

NFHA also co-chairs, with the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, the Fair Housing Task Force.  The Fair Housing Task Force is a coalition of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights consisting of civil rights, housing and community development, and other advocacy organizations.  The Fair Housing Task Force meets to address the most pressing contemporary issues related to the enforcement of the Fair Housing Act and to advocate for policies that promote equal access to housing opportunities.

NFHA tracks the federal budget process and advocates for the highest possible appropriations for key fair housing and other housing programs run through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Today, it is legal for a housing provider in a majority of states across the country to deny housing to people because they are gay, lesbian, transgender, unmarried, or a recipient of housing subsidies. NFHA has been a strong advocate for the expansion of the Fair Housing Act to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, and source of income.

Addiction

Established in 1951, NJAMHAA has become recognized as a leader in providing effective advocacy and legislative support to our members and the community at large. Their association creates a face for the population of individuals with mental illness and/or addictions who often have no voice of their own. Making sure individuals with behavioral health disorders are no longer invisible, ignored and misunderstood, NJAMHAA is in the national forefront fighting stigma and discrimination against persons with mental illness and/or addictions, helping them to improve their lives. They educate the public, as well as leaders and legislators. By leaning on our comprehensive support structure, our members stay focused on providing a high-quality continuum of care to ensure the recovery of adults and children dealing with mental illness, behavioral and emotional problems, and addictions.

Although they continue to evolve, one thing always remains constant: Their commitment to providers, individual receiving services and their families and our efforts help to improve the lives of individuals with mental illness and/or addictions.

Their presence is highly visible to policy makers and state and federal legislators on a consistent basis. NJAMHAA has access to key contacts in Trenton and in the nation's capital and our influence is extensive. Because of the large and comprehensive constituency of provider organizations we represent, NJAMHAA is a highly respected voice for the industry. Known for our persistence and perseverance, we are relentless and successful in our advocacy efforts on behalf of our members, and the individuals and families they serve.

The National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP) is a national non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation founded in 1994 by pioneers from the first twelve Drug Courts in the nation.

This extraordinary group of innovative judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and clinical professionals created a common-sense approach to improving the justice system by using a combination of judicial monitoring and effective treatment to compel drug-using offenders to change their lives.

From those visionaries came the Drug Court movement and ultimately the broader “problem-solving court” principles taught in law schools and utilized in everyday court practice throughout numerous municipal, state and federal court systems nationwide. Today with 3,057 Drug Courts in operation in all 50 states and U.S. territories, NADCP has forever changed the face of the justice system.