Every year, the Somerville Fair Housing Commission creates educational programs to help people in Somerville understand their rights in regard to Massachusetts Fair Housing Law.

Fair Housing Event 1

This year, the Commission is taking on the controversial issue of tenant screening. What can a landlord ask? What kinds of questions can lead to legal troubles. In a city with many small landlords, this information is critical to maintain cordial tenant-landlord relations.

On Tuesday, April 16, there will be an information session on tenant and landlord rights in regard to tenant screening.  7-8:30 PM, live at the Somerville Central Library Auditorium or on Zoom. 

The SPL will host a hybrid (virtual + in-person) conversation with the Somerville Fair Housing Commission about rights with tenants and landlords. This meeting will focus on the best practices for tenant screenings.

An experienced housing attorney will be present to talk and answer your questions about tenant screening practices.

Landlords: We will be discussing a recent case law regarding discrimination. This will include guidelines on how to avoid fair housing violations when you are screening tenants.

Tenants: Learn how to protect your rights when applying to rent.  will be able to hear about their rights regarding finding housing.

Register at this link and please indicate whether you will be attending in-person or on Zoom.

Fair Housing Event 2

A second program, only at the Somerville Central Library Auditorium, Saturday, APRIL 27, 2:00—4:00 PM.

Somerville Public Library in conjunction with the Somerville Fair Housing Commission is holding a viewing of the short file Segregated by Design and a discussion of the video, which is based on the book The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein.

The Color of Law is one of the most important books of the decade. It is a readable, understandable trip through American housing history. If you ever wondered how housing got the way it is, this is the book for you.

The Somerville Fair Housing Commission has been holding annual discussions of The Color of Law every April for the past three years. Please join us.

We will be playing the video Segregated by Design, which touches on several of the important points in the book, in hopes that it will encourage everyone to read this book.

Copies of The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein will be available to order all month long from the Library’s Catalog as well as digitally through the Hoopla and OverDrive/Libby apps. Please contact the Library if you’d like help getting a copy: 617-623-5000, ext. 2955.

More information and the registration link at this webpage.