April is Fair Housing and Water Conservation Month in New Smyrna Beach.

Written by Kristen Schmutz

Belden Communications News

During Monday's New Smyrna Beach City Commission meeting, Vice Mayor and Zone 4 Commissioner Randy Hartman declared April as Fair Housing and Water Conservation Month in the City of New Smyrna Beach.

“New Smyrna Beach is an inclusive community committed to fair housing and promoting appropriate activities by private and public entities to provide and advocate for equal housing opportunities for all residents and prospective residents,” said Hartman during the meeting.

Highlighting the significance of the Fair Housing Act, which was enacted on April 11, 1968, and aimed to eliminate racial segregation and housing discrimination in the United States, the act prohibits housing discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin, and disability, while requiring recipients of federal funding to promote fair housing in their communities. The New Smyrna Beach Housing Authority Executive Director, Teresa Pope, also attended the meeting and emphasized that real estate agents, brokers, landlords, or anyone in the housing business would violate these laws if they encouraged homeowners to sell or rent with discriminatory intent.

The New Smyrna Beach Housing Authority is responsible for providing 440 HUD Housing Choice vouchers and adding 92 affordable workforce housing units to the city’s inventory since its inception in 1950. Furthermore, an additional 80 affordable senior housing units at Greenlawn Manor Apartments are currently under construction, with expected completion this summer.

Following the proclamation of Fair Housing Month, Hartman announced the second proclamation of Water Conservation Month.

According to a release, the State of Florida and its water management districts have designated April, a dry month when water demands are most acute, to encourage citizens and businesses to practice water-saving measures and become more aware of the need to save water.

“The City of New Smyrna Beach has always encouraged and supported water conservation through various educational programs and special events. Every business, industry, school, and citizen can help by saving water and thus promote a healthy economy and community,” said Hartman.

The city of New Smyrna Beach and New Smyrna Beach Utilities recently co-hosted a SpringFest event on March 4, which included giving away 167 trees and over 200 tree seedlings, along with educational programs presented by environmental experts. These educational programs covered a wide range of topics, including water conservation, beekeeping, local bird species, litter cleanup, sea turtle tracking, mosquito control, natural gardening, raptor rescue & rehab, native plants, protected species, monarch butterflies, and more.

Residents interested in learning more can contact the City Clerk’s Office at clerk@cityofnsb.com or 386-410-2630.