|
Fair Housing Act
The Fair Housing Act, as amended in 1988, prohibits housing
discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, disability,
familial status, and national origin. Its coverage includes private
housing, housing that receives Federal financial assistance, and
State and local government housing. It is unlawful to discriminate
in any aspect of selling or renting housing or to deny a dwelling to
a buyer or renter because of the disabililty of that individual, an
individual associated with the buyer or renter, or an individual who
intends to live in the residence. Other covered activities include,
for example, financing, zoning practices, new construction design,
and advertising.
The Fair Housing Act requires owners of housing facilities to
make reasonable exceptions in their policies and operations to
afford people with disabilities equal housing opportunities. For
example, a landlord with a "no pets" policy may be required to
grant an exception to this rule and allow an individual who is blind
to keep a guide dog in the residence. The Fair Housing Act also
requires landlords to allow tenants with disabilities to make
reasonable access-related modifications to their private living
space, as well as to common use spaces. (The landlord is not
required to pay for the changes.) The Act further requires that
new multifamily housing with four or more units be designed and
built to allow access for persons with disabilities. This includes
accessible common use areas, doors that are wide enough for
wheelchairs, kitchens and bathrooms that allow a person using a
wheelchair to maneuver, and other adaptable features within the
units.
Complaints of Fair Housing Act violations may be filed with
the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. For
more information or to file a complaint, contact:
Office of Program Compliance and Disability Rights
Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
451 7th Street, SW ( Room 5242 )
Washington, D.C. 20140
You may also call the Fair Housing Information Clearinghouse at:
( 800 ) 343 - 3442 ( voice )
( 800 ) 483 - 2209 ( TDD )
Additionally, the Department of Justice can file cases
involving a pattern or practice of discrimination. The Fair
Housing Act may also be enforced though private lawsuits.
|
