Last week the Golden Valley City Council approved proclamations for Fair Housing Month and Parkinson's Awareness Month.
Fair Housing Month
Fair Housing Month is celebrated in communities around the country in the month of April as it marks the 55th anniversary of the passage of the Federal Fair Housing Law of 1968, declaring it unlawful to discriminate in the sale, rental, or financing of housing based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.
In April 2020, the City of Golden Valley, through its Housing and Redevelopment Authority, adopted a Fair Housing Policy to ensure that fair and equal housing opportunities are available to all persons in all housing and development activities funded by the City regardless of race, color, religion, immigration status, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, creed, familial status, national origin, cultural background, age, or disability.
The City’s affordable housing efforts come in different forms, including the Home Ownership Program for Equity (HOPE), Tenant Protection Ordinance, Mixed Income Housing Policy, and more.
Parkinson's Awareness Month
Parkinson’s disease is a chronic, progressive, neurological disease and is the second most common neurodegenerative disease in the United States. It's estimated to affect approximately one million people in the United States while being the 14th leading cause of death in the United States according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The National Parkinson Federation of Minnesota designated Golden Valley a Parkinson Friendly Community in 2016 based on the accessibility of City parks and trails as well as training provided to police, firefighters, and first responders about how to recognize basic Parkinson symptoms.