Fair Housing

Housing discrimination can be subtle or it can be quite obvious.  Here are some helpful examples of discriminatory behavior which FHU could offer assistance:

Race, Color or National Origin Discrimination:

• Your phone messages are not returned by the landlord or housing provider.
• Your housing community has a “black side” and a “white side.”
• You are told the house is rented; however you notice the house is still being advertised as available.
• You are told the security deposit is $100.00 on the phone; yet you are told the deposit is $300.00 when you meet the owner or agent face to face.
• You are white, and you are told that you cannot have visitors of a different race in your home.

Disability discrimination:

• You request a reasonable accommodation for your disability and your housing provider refuses to comply.
• You request to build a ramp, or make some other modifications for your disability at your own expense, and your landlord refuses.
• You are evicted when the housing provider learns of your disability.

Sex discrimination:

• You are sexually harassed by a member of the housing providers staff.
• Your landlord requests that instead of paying rent, you provide sexual favors.

Familial status:

• You are told “no kids.”
• You are only told about units in the “kids’ area” of a complex or only shown units on the first floor when other units are available.
• You are told that your children do not have access to facilities, such as the swimming pool or playground.

Religion:

• Because of your religion, you are subjected to an increased security deposit.
• You are told only about areas of town with a synagogue or mosque.
• The rental advertisement states that the rental is for “Christians only.”

Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity:

• You are a transgender woman and are asked not to wear women’s clothes in common areas of your building.
• You are a gay man and are being evicted because the new property manager thinks you will infect other tenants with HIV/AIDS.