January 2011 Coach's Quiz
We have given you 10 resolutions to improve your fair housing program. Now let's look at how they might apply in the real world. Take the COACH's Quiz to see what you have learned.
INSTRUCTIONS: Each of the following questions has only one correct answer. On a separate piece of paper, write down the number of each question, followed by the answer you think is correct—for example, 1)b, 2)a, and so on. The correct answers (with explanations) follow the quiz. Good luck!
QUESTION #1
Your office receives a call from a prospect asking about available one-bedroom units at your community. Even though there are vacancies, the employee, a recent hire, thinks the prospect sounds drunk. She tells the prospect there's nothing available and hangs up without making any record of the call. Could your community be accused of housing discrimination?
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No, if he sounded drunk, then your community is better off without him.
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No, but the employee should have asked for help or made a note about the call.
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Yes, the employee should not have lied about the availability of units.
QUESTION #2
While cleaning the hallway, a housekeeper encounters a resident who complains about the lack of available handicapped parking near her unit. The housekeeper tells the resident to contact the office and goes about her duties. Unhappy about the parking situation, the resident files a fair housing complaint. Your community would not be liable for a fair housing violation because the resident failed to follow the housekeeper's advice. True or false?
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True.
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False.
Coach's Answers & Explanations
QUESTION #1
Correct answer: c
Reason: Resolutions #1 & #2 apply here:
Resolution #1: Keep Personal Biases Out of Your Community
Resolution #2: Beef Up Fair Housing Training
Although the employee thought the prospect sounded as though he was drunk, it's possible that the prospect had some disability-related reason for his manner of speech. Falsely denying that housing is available for rental based on disability is a violation of fair housing law.
Wrong answers explained:
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Making snap decisions based on how someone sounds over the phone could lead to accusations of discrimination based on race, national origin, or other protected characteristics.
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The incident could lead to a fair housing complaint, but it also demonstrates the employee's need for further training. It's not uncommon for fair housing problems to arise from stray comments by new employees who don't understand the basics of fair housing law. The newly hired employee should have been trained to document all calls and to ask for help when needed.
QUESTION #2
Correct answer: b
Reason: Resolutions #2 & #6 apply here:
Resolution #2: Beef Up Fair Housing Training
Resolution #6: Handle Reasonable Accommodation Requests Properly
It's important to train your entire staff on how to recognize what could be considered a request for a reasonable accommodation based on a disability. The law does not require residents to say the words “reasonable accommodation” or to follow a community's formal rules on processing accommodation requests.
Wrong answers explained:
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It didn't matter that the resident didn't follow the housekeeper's advice about contacting the office. The resident's complaint could still be considered a request for a reasonable accommodation—and neglecting to do anything about it would amount to an unlawful denial of an accommodation request. Encourage all employees to report anything they see or hear that even hints at a fair housing problem.
See The Lesson For This Quiz
| New Year, New Focus: 10 Resolutions To Improve Your Fair Housing Program |