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^ Some residents do not have adequate information regarding basic housing rights, which <br />may lead to an increase in undetected discrimination. <br />Local entitlement communities may have policies and programs that affect housing <br />development, which may indirectly act as an impediment to fair housing choices. <br />2. Actions to Overcome Identified Imaediments <br />During the 2008-2009 report period the City undertook the following actions (on its own or in <br />cooperation with regional partners) to overcome the impediments to fair housing choice <br />identified in the regional AI: <br />^ The City of Santa Ana contracted with FHCOC to provide comprehensive educational and <br />enforcement programs to City residents. Actions taken during the 2008-2009 report period <br />included: <br />Fair Housing Community Education - On a regional basis, FHCOC conducted over 70 fair <br />housing community education presentations with an average of 100 individuals attending <br />each presentation. FHCOC also spoke at numerous public meetings, and held training <br />programs for consumers and housing industry professionals, such as real estate agents, <br />property managers, owners, and lenders. <br />Fair Housing Enforcement - On a regional basis, FHCOC responded to 59 housing <br />discrimination complaints - ~ involved th'e- City of Santa Ana. Responses to these <br />complaints included, as appropriate, investigation, testing, "portfolio testing" to evaluate <br />the merits of a fair housing claim, and when appropriate, conciliation and/or prosecution of <br />meritorious housing discrimination cases. <br />Tenant Leal Assistance - FHCOC provided legal assistance in _ housing court actions <br />within the region. These actions involved important housing rights issues, such as eviction, <br />housing discrimination, substandard conditions, or retaliation for exercising a lawful right. <br />Housing Dispute Evaluation & Resolution - On a regional basis, FHCOC assisted more than <br />7,600 households by evaluating over 8,193 housing issues/complaints. Of these 1,275 <br />households were in the City of Santa Ana. <br />Mediation Program -Regional activities included resolving disputes, many of which <br />involved housing related issues, through mediation or conciliation. Certified mediators <br />assisted housing providers/consumers to reach agreements about their disputes without <br />litigation. <br />^ FHCOC invited local banking and lending industry personnel to attend fair housing <br />education programs that emphasized the impact of fair housing laws on home mortgage <br />15 Draft 8/26/2009 <br />19F-21 <br />