City switches to Long Beach company for fair housing

Costa Mesa’s new provider of help and information on fair housing in the city will offer walk-in counseling service at the Neighborhood Community Center downtown. For the first time, Costa Mesa has contracted with the Fair Housing Foundation — a Long Beach-based company — switching from its past provider, the Fair Housing Council of Orange County.

The service helps landlords implement policies that are not discriminatory and coaches tenants on their rights and how to resolve disputes.

The Fair Housing Foundation offers a couple of programs that weren’t as convenient for Costa Mesans in the past, according to Community Development Block Grant Coordinator Mike Linares. Training sessions for property managers, for instance, will be within the city limits.

“We felt like that was a big plus because instead of going out of town residents can just go to one of the community centers,” Linares said.

Residents can also walk in for counseling from 9 a.m. to noon the first Tuesdays of the month and from 2 to 5 p.m. the third Wednesdays of the month at the Neighborhood Community Center, 1845 Park Ave.

— Alan Blank