PITTSTON, LUZERNE CO. (WOLF) \u2014 The City of Pittston held a Fair Housing Information Session Thursday at Pittston City Hall to share information about housing rights and connect residents with local resources and programs.<\/p>\n
Open to residents of the city and the Greater Pittston Area, the free event was geared toward homeowners, renters, landlords and anyone interested in learning more about housing resources.<\/p>\n
Fair housing is the idea that everyone should have the same shot at finding a place to live. City officials said the federal Fair Housing Act bars discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or familial status.<\/p>\n
Kristen Walters, Community Development & Grant Specialist, City of Pittston, said the event brought several housing-related programs under one umbrella for residents to consider.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo having events like this allows people to show up, ask the questions that need to be asked, and get information that they might have a hard time finding otherwise. The City of Pittston has numerous resources for different types of residents, whether homeowners, renters or people who want to buy their own home,\u201d said Walters.<\/p>\n
Walters said the city\u2019s multi-municipal home rehabilitation program was one focus of the session. She said it served 12 municipalities and helped homeowners address code-related repairs, and that her focus in the coming months would be helping interested residents apply and move through the approval and funding process.<\/p>\n
Other topics included down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers and a rundown of local programs and partners, including the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Pittston, Beautiful Blocks, NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania and the Pittston Housing Authority.<\/p>\n