Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. Your support for this petition may have sparked this partnership between the Maryland State Realestate Appraisers, Appraisal Companies, and Home Inspectors (SCREA et. al.,).  By exercising your voice, a timely update on 09 April 2024 annouced that the Maryland Civil Rights Comission will have the authority to investigate and pursue complaints of housing discrimination.  You can read more about this in the attached photo or at this website: https://mccr.maryland.gov/Documents/press-releases/MCCR%20SECA%20official%20MOU.pdf

Today I was thinking about what to do with this petition. In my self-reflection, I realized that our community really got behind this cause without knowing the plan for their signatures. They signed in blind faith, perhaps because they are always told do not complain, or know one will listen, or how about minorities voices are not heard as home owners rights. Additionally, some have commented on the limited knowledge of rights, and how can they advocate with state, and federal agencies to hold these builders, and developers accountable.  This is not what we signed up for, but the disparate treatment, and lackluster services calls for this level of escalation. Thankfully, our voices are being heard. Although we collected 116 signatures in just 7 days, we still have a lot of work to do — we need more people to stand up for equal rights for underrepresented populations in housing. While I will not go into detail about how I started this outcry that is now a movement for change, I will tell you that as a black homeowner, I was treated racially unfairly by a caucasian county government employee. FULL STOP. 

So why the update? Well, today the Maryland Civil Rights Commission teamed up with the Maryland State Realestate Appraisal Board (SCREA) to issue a joint statement condemning unfair housing practices in Maryland. I filed a complaint with SCREA about the aforementioned government employee who failed to inspect not only my home, but several others in my community in Prince George County. I also filed another complaint with the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice informing them of how a government employee was discriminating and treating my home unfairly, similar to the many other homes and community features we all signed up for and were promsied. There has been a culture of blindly signing off on inspections without making sure housing, landscaping, walls, roads, sidewalks, and all community centers were in compliance and served the best interest of the residents who pruchased homes in this community.  In light of these recent developments and growing community support, it is important that we continue to push for accountability and transparency in housing policy.

This is petition is about questioning the acceptability of minorities paying full price for homes and new developments, and being lied to and cheated as evidenced by  delivering substandard work that has resulted in residents suffering from mold, leaks in the house, sandboxes in the landscaping, broken walls, and the developer cursing out 100 homeowners in a phone call because they did not appreciate us telling them how unhappy we were as a community because of the substandard work both in our home and in our community. It reflects a level of tolerance towards minority communities where professionalism seems to fall by the wayside compared to neighboring areas like Montgomery County.

You may have already forgotten, but last year there was a major incident in which a Black homeowner in Prince George's County was racially discriminated against during the appraisal process.(Gamble & Langmaid, 2022; Hilton, 2023; Fletcher et al, 2015; Milloy, 2015; & Miller, 2021)The incident highlighted the importance of equal treatment and raising awareness of housing issues in underrepresented communities. The incident served as a wake-up call and emphasized the urgency of addressing housing inequalities and discriminatory practices. Furthermore, housing rights are not limited to property valuation. They extend to all aspects of housing, including access to affordable housing, fair lending practices and protection from unfair due diligence resulting from housing regulation and discrimination by private and government entities. This includes the right of home inspectors to exercise their due diligence to protect homeowners and communities from adverse risks by ensuring that all aspects of a housing inspection and expectations from the Prince George County planning board are followed. The fight for equal housing rights for underrepresented communities continues, and it is important that we rally more support and raise awareness.

Here is the request:

Get everyone you care about to sign this petition and keep collecting signatures. Next, I will send our petition to the Prince George's County Department of Inspections Permitting and Enforcement to show them: WE ARE TIRED! Also, the petition will be sent to developers, builders, the Maryland Attorney General, the Maryland State Civil Rights Commission and the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice to let them know what we want as a future community that aligns with the Prince George's County 2035 vision.

In conclusion:

I LOVE PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, but racial injustice in housing not only discourages big investors from moving to the area, but also drives residents of diverse backgrounds to neighboring states like Viriginia because they are tired of Prince George's County allowing this substandard treatment to continue.

I will have more on this in my next update... Wait until I explain Prince George's County Department of Permitting Insepctions and Enforcement (DPIE) annoucing the increased enforcement for barber stores, food establishments and other home-based businesses. It's time to share this knowledge.

Here are several resources to make your voice heard directly:

Maryland Civil Rights Comission - Housing Discrimination Complaint Form can be filled out online here: https://doit.state.md.us/selectsurvey/TakeSurvey.aspx?PageNumber=1&SurveyID=7423578&Preview=true

Complaints about skipped inspections require you to submit via email here Real Estate Appraiser and Home Inspector complaint form(Word). Take the 15 minutes to download the form, type out your complaint and email it with a wet signature to COMPLAINT FORM

Commission of Real Estate Appraisers, Appraisal Management Companies, and Home Inspectors

1100 N. Eutaw St. Rm #121 Baltimore, Maryland 21201

(410) 230-6165 or DLOPLRealEstateAppraiser-LABOR@maryland.gov

Additional areas for enforcement and complaints: 

Federal Housing Administration - To file a complaint regarding housing discrimination, visit the HUD website and complete the online complaint form.Fair Housing EnforcementPeople who believe they have experienced discrimination may file a complaint by contacting HUD's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity at 800-669-9777 (voice) or 800-877-8339 (Relay). Housing discrimination complaints may also be filed by going to hud.gov/fair housing. More information can be found here:

https://www.hud.gov/fairhousing/fileacomplaint

Department of Justice Civil Rights Division :

https://civilrights.justice.gov/report/

There are many more, but these are good places to start. Also ensure to write your congressman, local delegate, get your district representative involved, and attend community meetings to address these ongoing housing issues. Raise your voice! The buck stops here, and we shall continue to FIGHT to bring to fruition, the 2035 Prince George County vision of quality housing and facilities to support the growth upcoming over the next 10 years.

With humility and gratitude I submit to you this update. Thank you.

Gamble, J., & Langmaid, V. (2022, August 20). Black couple sues after they say home valuation rises nearly $300,000 when shown by white colleague. https://richmond.com/news/national/black-couple-sues-after-they-say-home-valuation-rises-nearly-300-000-when-shown-by/article_f455ae74-c730-58e0-aec3-fadd69234fec.html
Hilton, J. (2023, February 17). He went to inspect his new home. Police handcuffed him for trespassing.. https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/02/17/man-detained-trespassing-lawsuit-police/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=wp_local
Fletcher, M., Cille, M D., & Cameron, D. (2015, January 24). The American Dream shatters in Prince George's County. https://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/investigative/2015/01/24/the-american-dream-shatters-in-prince-georges-county/
Milloy, C. (2015, February 10). Rebuilding equity in Prince George’s. https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/rebuilding-equity-in-prince-georges-will-take-some-work/2015/02/10/c171bf88-b16f-11e4-854b-a38d13486ba1_story.html
Miller, L. (2021, November 2). Black homeowners allege appraisal bias in Prince George's County; County Realtor association investigating. https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/maryland/black-homeowners-allege-appraisal-bias-prince-georges-county-realtor-association-investigating/65-3df4478c-e4cf-46d0-8fcb-8c0c8794940d