Articles in Category: Fair Housing Act

February 11, 2021

HUD Announces Fair Housing Act Protection Improvements

There is good news from the Department of Housing and Urban Development; the agency has announced it plans to “administer and enforce the Fair Housing Act” with an eye toward eliminating discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. In the earliest weeks of the Biden administration, the HUD Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) issued a memorandum indicating that HUD will interpret the Fair Housing Act “to bar discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity and directing HUD offices and recipients of HUD funds to enforce the Act accordingly.” This comes on the heels of the President’s executive order 13988, “Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation” requiring executive branch agencies to examine further steps that could be | more...

February 10, 2021

HUD Brings Fair Housing Charges In Missouri

By Bruce Reichstein

Have you ever been the victim of housing discrimination? In spite of the federal laws designed to stop it, cases still occur in America. And sometimes only the victim of the discrimination has the power to stop to perpetrator from future abuses. If you don’t report the illegal activity, it can happen to someone else. Housing discrimination creates terrible conditions for anyone who wants to buy a new home. And this discrimination’s negative effects don’t stay neatly contained to the sector where the abuses occur, either. Housing discrimination in the rental sector can negatively affect a house hunter’s ability to find housing at a reasonable price. It is sometimes necessary to rent a home while looking for a home to purchase. The damage housing discrimination does at the rental stage | more...

August 25, 2020

HUD Approves Conciliation Agreements in Arkansas Fair Housing Discrimination Case

By Joe Wallace

Housing discrimination at any stage–buying, renting, financing, etc.–is a violation of federal law. The Fair Housing Act protects borrowers from being denied housing based on non-financial criteria including race, family status, sexual identity, etc. The Department of Housing and Urban Development has announced agreements in an Arkansas Fair Housing discrimination case. According to a press release issued by HUD, the agency has approved three Conciliation Agreements with the owners and property management company of Springdale Ridge Apartments in Springdale, Arkansas. HUD says these three agreements resolve complaints that the owners and management of Springdale Ridge Apartments “discriminated against several residents because of their national origin and retaliated against an employee living on site who sought to inform the residents of their fair housing rights” according to the HUD press release. | more...

July 21, 2020

HUD Announces Agreement In California Fair Housing Act Case

By Bruce Reichstein

The federal law known as the Fair Housing Act protects consumers at all levels of the housing process. Buyers, renters, house hunters, all are protected against illegal discrimination thanks to the provisions of the Fair Housing Act that require only financial qualifications to be used when approving housing, providing accessibility for disabled tenants, etc. But sometimes there are violations of these laws and when those violations are brought to the attention of the authorities, an investigation may lead to changes in the way housing issues are handled by a particular agency, landlord, etc. The latest of these actions includes a Department of Housing and Urban Development’s announcement of an agreement in a Fair Housing Act case in Sacramento, California. The Sacramento Housing And Redevelopment Agency (SHRA) was accused of Fair | more...

July 2, 2020

HUD Announces Fair Housing Grant Awards

By Bruce Reichstein

A person or family looking for a home to buy with an FHA mortgage doesn’t go into the process expecting to be treated to a violation of federal law through discriminatory practices that violate the Fair Housing Act. But many people do encounter such discrimination; the official site of the National Low Income Housing Coalition notes that in 2017 alone 2,249 Fair Housing cases were settled, with more than 400 cases involving a guilty plea from the defendant. Fair Housing Act violations prevent those in need of housing from finding reasonable, affordable homes–discrimination in the housing process is a violation of federal law but unfortunately, there are many who still experience such discrimination whether as a future renter or homeowner. Did you know that Fair Housing laws protect you at | more...

June 29, 2020

HUD Brings Fair Housing Act Charges Against Atlanta Landlords

By Joe Wallace

Have you experienced housing discrimination at any stage in the housing process? Violations of the Fair Housing Act can occur at any stage of your journey to find a new rental home or purchase including home loans, refinance loans, home buying, etc. If you have experienced ANY kind of discrimination while looking for a house or apartment, file a complaint of discrimination with the HUD Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity at (800) 669-9777. You can also file a Fair Housing Act complaint online by visiting How to File a Complaint at the HUD official site. Why? Because Fair Housing violations continue to be an issue in the United States of America, and often the only thing that prevents those who discriminated against YOU to keep violating the law | more...

May 4, 2020

Sexual Harassment As A Violation Of The Fair Housing Act

By Bruce Reichstein

The month of April is Fair Housing Month in America, and while at the time of this writing that month has just ended there are efforts made around the clock to raise awareness of Fair Housing laws. HUD has issued a press release about one of those ongoing efforts; a joint-agency fight to stop sexual harassment in the housing process. The U.S. Attorney General and the HUD Secretary have partnered to remind landlords and renters that sexual harassment at any stage of the housing process is illegal and a violation of federal Fair Housing Act regulations. “The Fair Housing Act embodies the spirit of this great Nation where everyone is entitled to equal opportunity and respect,” said the HUD Secretary, who was quoted in the press release. He adds, “No | more...

April 20, 2020

HUD Housing Discrimination Policy During COVID-19

By Bruce Reichstein

The FHA and HUD celebrate Fair Housing Month during April each year, and in the year 2020, coronavirus pandemic concerns raise some Fair Housing issues to new importance. The Department of Housing and Urban Development has issued official policy on housing discrimination related to COVID-19. The agency issued a press release, reminding tenants, landlords, house hunters, and all others involved in the housing industry, “…viruses do not target specific racial or ethnic groups. Be aware that the Fair Housing Act and other federal laws prohibit the eviction, turning away or harassment of a person in housing because they are profiled, on the basis of race, national origin or other protected class, to be associated with COVID-19.” That is a very important issue to consider. Not everyone is able to shelter | more...

April 8, 2020

Celebrating Fair Housing Month

By Bruce Reichstein

The month of April is Fair Housing Month, and even during COVID-19 woes and coronavirus outbreak containment efforts continue, the FHA and HUD are working to raise awareness of Fair Housing Act laws, your rights, and responsibilities. Sexual Harassment As A Violation Of Fair Housing Laws Fair Housing month is a campaign to raise awareness of the Fair Housing Act. The 2020 theme of the outreach is “Call HUD: Because Sexual Harassment in Housing is Illegal.” 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 | more...

March 5, 2020

HUD Announces Settlement In California Fair Housing Sexual Harassment Case

By Joe Wallace

Some renters and house hunters are not aware that sexual harassment from someone at any stage of the housing process can be considered a violation of federal law. Did you know that the Fair Housing Act forbids landlords and others involved in the housing industry from sexually harassing those in search of housing (bought or rented)? A recent settlement announced by the Department of Housing and Urban Development highlights this issue. According to HUD, the agency recently approved a conciliation agreement, “requiring Ronoel Romero, Blanca Romero, and Mario Prudencio, the owners and manager of a Bakersfield, California, apartment complex, to pay $14,500 to several female residents”. The required payment is part of the settlement. Fair Housing Act laws forbid housing providers from sexually harassing tenants. The prohibition includes “creating a | more...