Raising Awareness for the Fair Housing Act

April 5, 2020

April is Fair Housing month, a month-long campaign to raise awareness of the Fair Housing Act as well as the protections offered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development to help house hunters and apartment seekers alike to get fair consideration when applying to find or buy a home. 

According to the HUD official site, “Every type of discrimination robs individuals and families of their right to choose where to live, but one form of discrimination HUD is particularly active in addressing is discrimination against families with children, known as familial status discrimination.” 

This type of discrimination, along with sexual harassment, is likely one of the less-well understood kinds, but there are DEFINITELY Fair Housing Act protections against both types.

Sexual Harassment: A Violation of Fair Housing Act Law

Where sexual harassment goes, HUD policy is very specific. "While any form of discrimination stains the very fabric of our nation, HUD is especially focused on protecting the right of individuals to feel safe and secure in their homes, free from sexual harassment or unwanted sexual advances," according to a HUD press release on the official site.

The theme of the HUD Fair Housing Month outreach for 2020 is “Call HUD: Because Sexual Harassment in Housing is Illegal. "This theme, which is a call to action, is an appeal to those who experience discrimination, particularly survivors of sexual harassment, to contact HUD for help. Much work remains to be done, but HUD’s efforts in this area are already producing real results for real people."

But every year, ten percent or more of all Fair Housing complaints are related to the other type of discrimination we’re discussing here, “familial” discrimination. 

What You Should Know About Familial Discrimination

“State and local fair housing groups that partner with HUD in fighting discrimination also describe familial status discrimination as being one of their priority areas, as anecdotal evidence shows that it is often a proxy for race discrimination.” according to HUD.

“In addition to the loss of housing, this type of discrimination has a destabilizing effect that prevents families from positioning themselves in ways that enable the next generation to take advantage of all this country has to offer.”

What You Should Know About Familial Discrimination

Fair Housing Act rules also include a prohibition against discriminating against applicants with children, with “too many” children, or against couples who live together without being legally married, et cetera. 

This affects people at all stages of home ownership. Some are illegally denied a look at homes for sale, others may be victims of “redlining” where different or more rigorous standards are held for certain people than for others who are similarly financially qualified.

Fair Housing Act protections are enforced all year, not just during the month of April. But Fair Housing Act violations must be reported in order for HUD to investigate them. Have you encountered any form of housing discrimination, including sexual harassmen?

File a complaint with the HUD Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity at their toll free phone number, (800) 669-9777. 

You can also file Fair Housing Act complaints online at www.hud.gov/fairhousing.

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