FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 2, 2023
Staten Island Fair Housing Class to Cite Best Practices Regarding ‘Lawful Source of Income, Protected Classes’
Discussions to embrace a variety of topics, such as proper interaction between real estate agents and clients, and people receiving governmental assistance
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – An upcoming continuing education class for Staten Island real estate professionals will shed light on the regulatory and ethical conduct expected of real estate agents when dealing with consumers.
Dorothy Botsoe, vice chair of the National Association of REALTORS® Fair Housing Policy Committee
“Lawful Source of Income, Protected Classes,” the second session in a three-part course focusing on fair housing, will be available via Zoom to members of the Staten Island Board of Realtors® (SIBOR) Wednesday, Aug. 16, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Attendees will learn about the “best practices that brokerages, management companies, agents, homeowners and landlords must put in place to … provide access to housing for all, regardless of the person’s source of income and protected class,” said Dorothy Botsoe, vice chair of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) Fair Housing Policy Committee, and creator/facilitator of the presentation. “The real estate agents will be able to understand what a ‘Lawful Source of Income’ is and why we need to provide access to everyone without judgement.”
Botsoe will be joined in the presentation by Chelsea L. John, Esq., director of Fair Housing Investigations, New York State Division of Human Rights.
Discussions will embrace a variety of topics, such as proper interaction between real estate agents and clients, and people receiving assistance through Section 8 and other governmental programs.
FAIR HOUSING SIMULATION
As part of SIBOR’S ongoing commitment to fair housing, the latest continuing education classes were preceded by Staten Island’s real estate professionals having participated in Fairhaven, a fair housing simulation training-experience for Realtors provided by NAR. The platform uses the power of storytelling to help members identify, prevent, and address discriminatory practices in real estate.
Inspired by real stories, this innovative online experience has agents work against the clock to sell homes in the fictional town of Fairhaven, while confronting discrimination in the homebuying process.
During their Fairhaven interaction, SIBOR members also walked in the shoes of a homebuyer facing discrimination. The training provided customized feedback that the Island REALTORS® can apply to daily business interactions.
About the Staten Island Board of Realtors® (SIBOR)
And Staten Island Multiple Listing Service (SIMLS)
Established in 1915, the Staten Island Board of Realtors® (SIBOR) is the largest professional association in Staten Island, N.Y.
SIBOR exists to enhance the ability and opportunity of its members to conduct their business successfully and ethically, and promote the preservation of the public’s right to own, transfer and use real property.
Comprised of approximately 2,500 members, SIBOR serves real estate agents, brokers and affiliated professionals throughout the borough and surrounding areas.
SIBOR is the provider of the Staten Island Multiple Listing Service Inc. (SIMLS), which works as a clearinghouse through which more than 275 local real estate firms exchange information on properties they have listed for sale. Together, its members participate in over 5,000 real estate transactions every year.
All SIBOR Realtors belong to the New York State Association of REALTORS® (NYSAR) and the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR).
SIBOR and the Staten Island MLS may be reached at 718-928-3220 and visited online at MLSsiny.com. Social media content pertaining to SIBOR and the Staten Island MLS is available on Facebook at Staten Island Board of Realtors, LinkedIn at Staten Island Board of Realtors, Twitter via @SIBOR and Instagram at SIBOR REALTORS (siborrealtors).
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