Ten landlords, real estate agencies and property owners who have contributed to the advancement of fair housing and to providing decent housing for low income families were honored at a fair housing appreciation breakfast.

The event was sponsored by the Housing Committee of the Morris County Human Relations Commission in cooperation with Homeless Solutions Inc., the Housing Alliance of Morris County, the Mental Health Association of Morris County, NewBridge Services, Inc., Provident Bank and Madison Affordable Housing Corporation.

"At a time when minority groups say that housing is still closed to them," said Joanne Antonelli, co-chair of the Human Relations Commission housing committee, "we want to call attention to the work that is being done and encourage positive action among others who provide housing."

She noted that the newly released annual report by Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Fair Housing Assistance Program said that their agencies received a record number of housing discrimination complaints - 9,254 - nearly twice the number recorded nine years ago.

The complaints ranged from discrimination against those with disabilities, with race following closely or equally. The largest category of issues dealt with terms and conditions imposed in the sale or rental of property - from outright refusal to rent to requiring a higher security deposit from a minority member.

"Clearly, we have work to do," Antonelli said.

In Morris County, said Wayne Cresta, the Commission's chair, HUD reported 48 housing complaints filed between 2002 and 2006 - 23 in 2006. Of these 23, 11 were based on disability, 11 on race, five on family status and two on sexual orientation.

The awards, presented for the first time, recognize those who set the standards for what agencies and individuals can do to help families find housing that is appropriate, safe and affordable.



Award winners: Among those honored
at the fair housing breakfast were (l-r) Kara Parmigiani and her father John of Alps Properties; Dr. Betsy Hall of Homeless Solutions; Teresa Keefe, a Morristown landlord; Doreen Ernandez of the Church of God in Christ; Louis Lanzaerotti from the Farm in Harding Township; Michelle Sement of Remax House Values; Dolores D’Accardi and Elizabeth Gallagher of Gervin Realty and Lou Ricco of Madison Affordable Housing Corp. Not pictured: Lynn Howell and Jessie Rodriguez of Howell Property Management and Realty Corp. and Westminster Management, LLC.

The awards will be presented to:

Alps Properties - Owner John Parmiginani and his daughter, Kara, who manages the Alps Apartments, are cited for their willingness to go "above and beyond" for their tenants and look out for their best interests. One example: they continue to keep rents at fair levels, when other management companies have raised theirs above fair market values.

Gervin Realty - A property management company with 25 years experience, Gervin manages condominium associations in Morris, Essex and Union counties and buildings and shopping centers in Morris. In addition, it offers a rental/management service to individual condo owners. The staff has been cited for going "above and beyond" in working with disabled and low income tenants.

Homeless Solutions, Inc. - For more than 20 years, the organization has been providing shelter to the homeless and how offers shelter for men, single women and families, a safe haven shelter (in cooperation with the Morris County Mental Health Association) for homeless who are mentally ill and transitional housing. It also has established Headquarters Development, a division to develop new housing for low and moderate income people. Among its projects: the Jean Street Apartments, 15 rental units, the first permanent supportive family housing in the state... It also has acquired property at 38-42 Abbett Avenue, Morristown for 12 affordable rental units, gained approval from the Morristown Board of Adjustment to renovate a one family house at 34 Abbett Ave. and create two two-bedroom units, closed on purchase of 81 Martin Luther King Ave. in Morristown as the site for four units and completely the design phase for ten units on Drakestown Road, Washington Township.

Howell Property Management and Realty Corp., Dover - Lynn Howell, owner, and property manager Jessie Rodriguez, have earned for their business the title of "the company with a heart." They look after tenants with disabilities to insure their well-being, keep rents at affordable rates and make sure the apartments are well maintained.

Teresa Keefe - A long time resident of Morristown, Keefe owned several apartment buildings on Speedwell Ave. Over the years, she has been open to accepting housing assistance and is willing to provide decent, safe and affordable housing for tenants with special needs.

Madison Affordable Housing Corp. (MAHC) and Church of God in Christ - Together, they have developed two three-bedroom units at 8 George St. in Morristown, replacing a burst-out vacant building. The Church also introduced MAHC to George Street neighbors who agreed to sell to them. In addition, MAHC in the last three years has developed two bedroom affordable for sale units at 27 Elm St., Madison and partnered with the Housing Partnership Community Development Corporation to develop for-sale housing in Dover (not completed). It is now working to develop 12 units of affordable housing for seniors and the disabled in Madison. Three units will be earmarked for homeless.

Michelle Sement - licensed realtor since 2002, Sement worked first with Weichert and now with REMAX House Values in Randolph. She has been providing real estate services for the Mental Health Association for the last four years, helping to have commissions paid by landlords, smoothing the way for vouchers and effectively working with difficult clients. She also provides mentoring to new associates. In 2005, she was awards the "circle of excellence" bronze award.

The Farm at Harding - Hailed as an example of how affordable housing can become a reality, the Farm is the result of a decision by the township to meet their affordable housing obligations, not by giving money to another city, but by building their own. In 2004, the township paid $1 million to buy a nine-acre parcel at the corner of Kitchell Road and Woodland Avenue. Officials used volunteer help and agreed to back a loan to a nonprofit - the Affordable Housing Corp. organized by Philip and Mary van Kirk - to develop and pay $200,000 a year to subsidize the Farm’s costs. Families began to move into the 24 affordable housing units in 2006.

Westminster Management, LLC - Winner of the 2006 Property Management Company of the Year, the Florham Park company manages nearly 18,000 apartment units, including garden apartments, high-rise buildings and active adult communities. The company is known for its response to the needs of tenants. Among its buildings: The Ambassador in Morristown, where they have willingly accepted housing assistance on behalf of several elderly tenants.