Fair Housing in Action: Managing Accommodation and Assistance Animal Requests

Learn essential strategies for handling reasonable accommodation requests and assistance animal verification with confidence and compliance. This session provides practical approaches to evaluating requests, maintaining proper documentation, and implementing accepted accommodations while staying within fair housing guidelines. Discover how to navigate complex situations while protecting both resident rights and property interests, including considerations under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).

Perfect for property managers, compliance officers, leasing professionals, and anyone responsible for handling accommodation requests in housing.

Here are a few of the topics we will cover in this session:

• Understanding the key differences between assistance and service animals
• Proper evaluation of reasonable accommodation requests
• Documentation standards for verification and approval
• Managing challenging accommodation scenarios
• Best practices for implementing approved accommodations
• Common mistakes and how to avoid them
• How to properly review accommodation requests
• When and how to request additional verification
• Strategies for handling multiple accommodation requests from the same resident
• Guidelines for assistance animal policies
• Communication best practices with residents and medical professionals
• Documentation requirements for your compliance files
• VAWA Considerations: Understanding how the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) affects accommodation and assistance animal requests for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Learn how to navigate VAWA-related requests and ensure compliance with protections for survivors.

 Think Like an Auditor: Building Review-Ready Files & Learning the Art of File Auditing

Whether you're a new Compliance Specialist learning to audit files or property staff wanting to understand what compliance reviewers look for, this interactive session will transform your approach to file compliance. Learn the key strategies auditors use to evaluate files and how to apply these insights to create spotless submissions. Through hands-on practice and real-world examples, you'll gain confidence in both reviewing and preparing compliant files. Perfect for new compliance specialists, property managers, and site staff looking to strengthen their compliance expertise.

Here are a few of the topics we will cover in this session:

• Understanding the auditor's perspective and review process
• Key components that reviewers look for in every file
• Common errors that trigger compliance findings
• Red flags that catch a reviewer's attention
• Documentation standards that showcase compliance
• Best practices for organizing reviewer-friendly files

Through hands-on group activities and practical examples, participants will:

• Practice reviewing sample files using professional audit techniques
• Learn to identify and correct common compliance issues
• Master proper file organization and documentation
• Understand how to prepare files that pass review
• Develop effective quality control processes
• Build confidence in both reviewing and preparing compliant files

SDHDA Update

Join us for a brief informative session where staff from the South Dakota Housing Development Authority will be present to provide the latest industry updates. They will be available to answer your questions and share key insights on current housing trends, programs, and initiatives in South Dakota. Don't miss this opportunity to stay informed and connect with experts in the field!

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