By Emily Ford
eford@salisburypost.com
SALISBURY – The city’s new Housing Advocacy Commission will make its public debut this month, hosting a free workshop on fair housing and responsibilities of tenants and landlords.
In collaboration with the Salisbury Rowan Human Relations Council, the housing commission will sponsor the event from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 20 at City Hall.
Reservations are required, seating is limited, and dinner will be served.
The commission, created a year ago by Salisbury City Council, focuses on educating people about housing issues and recommending changes to city ordinances. Led by volunteer Barbara Perry, the group also will alert city officials to needed enforcement of ordinances that affect housing.
Even though it lacks the teeth neighborhood advocates originally wanted, the new Housing Advocacy Commission earned wide support and the unanimous endorsement of City Council in August 2011.
The commission has met three times, including a strategic planning session. Members want the city’s permission to meet more often – monthly rather than quarterly – and have two vice chairmen rather than one.
Each vice chair – Catherine Warren and William Peoples – would lead a standing committee, either code enforcement or education and community involvement.
City Council will consider the changes and hold a public hearing Sept. 18.
The Sept. 20 event will tackle housing discrimination, address regional trends and best practices and offer a question-and-answer session with officials from state and regional agencies.
Participants will learn more about landlord and tenant laws, rights and responsibilities and what kind of actions constitute housing discrimination.
City officials said the workshop is designed for members of civic boards and commissions, organizations that work to provide housing, bankers, neighborhood groups, real estate agents and brokers, property owners or managers, tenants, people with disabilities or anyone who wants to learn more about complex housing issues.
To make a reservation, call 704-638-5217.
Contact reporter Emily Ford at 704-797-4264.

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Community involvement and education committee
Catherine Warren, chairwoman
Anne Lyles
Nate Chambers
Joann Diggs
Greta Connor
Code enforcement committee
William Peoples, chairman
Rodney Queen
Eddie Hampton
Calvin Turner
George Wilson