MAYOR BARTLETT, JACK HENDERSON HONOR LEGAL AID, PROCLAIM APRIL ‘FAIR HOUSING MONTH’ IN TULSA

Two Tulsa officials have proclaimed April as Fair Housing Month in honor of the 47th anniversary of passage of the U. S. Fair Housing Law and honored Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma for its partnership with Tulsa’s Metropolitan Fair Housing Council.

Mayor Dewey F. Bartlett, Jr. and Councilor Jack Henderson, District I, each presented proclamations to Legal Aid attorney Teressa L. Webster. The proclamations memorialize the landmark national legislation which enunciated the national policy of “fair housing” without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, sex, familial status, disability and encourages fair housing opportunities for all citizens. On April 11, 1968 the U.S. Fair Housing Law, Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, was enacted.

“The Tulsa Area Fair Housing partnership as well as its member organizations, agencies and volunteers are committed to highlight the Fair Housing Law … and united in their efforts to raise awareness about the right to equal opportunity in housing for all people,” read the mayor’s proclamation.  Webster is a staff attorney in Legal Aid’s Muskogee Office and the co-director of Legal Aid’s Fair Housing Project.

“We thank the mayor and councilor for supporting fair housing for all Tulsans,” said Webster. “Safe housing is essential for all human beings and we thank Tulsa leaders for their recognition of this. “

Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma is a not-for-profit law firm, which provides free civil legal assistance to eligible low-income individuals and their families and to elderly persons in the areas of family, consumer, housing, health and employment. Legal Aid attorneys and staff work through a network of fully-staffed law offices and satellite offices, serving eligible clients in all 77 counties of Oklahoma. Legal Aid’s statewide toll-free number to call for legal assistance is 1-888-534-5243.
Funding for Legal Aid is from the Legal Services Corporation, the State of Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Bar Foundation, 16 United Way or United Fund organizations and aging agencies across the state, as well as generous attorneys, law firms, foundations, businesses and individuals.