On April 30, 2019, the Westchester County Human Rights Commission commemorated Fair Housing Month with the Hon. Lois T. Bronz Fair Housing Award Ceremony and Panel Presentation on Fair and Affordable Housing in Westchester County.

The award is given annually in memory of Ms. Bronz, whose devotion to public service was an example for many of what a truly committed leader and activist was capable of achieving on behalf of the people of Westchester County.  This year’s award recipient was Dennis Hanratty, who has served as Executive Director of the Mount Vernon United Tenants (MVUT) for over thirty years.  Under Mr. Hanratty’s leadership, MVUT is the only funded and staffed Tenants Association in the County, providing case management services, preventing evictions, and rehousing tenants from emergency shelter

Following County Attorney John Nonna’s welcoming remarks, the award ceremony, and a keynote address from Mr. Hanratty, the Commission’s Fair Housing Director, Saad Siddiqui, moderated a panel discussion on fair and affordable housing issues facing the residents of Westchester County.

Mr. Hanratty was joined on the panel by additional distinguished experts in this area:  Rose Noonan, Executive Director of the Housing Action Council; Andrew Smith, Deputy Executive Director of Westchester Residential Opportunities; and Blanca P. Lopez, Senior Adviser to the County Executive on Fair and Affordable Housing. Fair Housing Board Chair John Baker did a wonderful job as Master of Ceremonies.