Fair Housing
The Federal Fair Housing Act prohibits housing discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, and familial status (i.e., presence of children in the household). The Fair Housing Act does not specifically include sexual orientation and gender identity as prohibited biases, however, a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or questioning (LGBTQ) person who believes they have experienced housing
discrimination may still be covered by the Fair Housing Act. In addition, housing providers receiving HUD funding, have loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), and lenders insured by FHA may be subject to HUD program regulations intended to ensure equal access of LGBTQ persons.
Email or contact HUD at 800-669-9777 and for the hearing impaired, please call TTY 800-927-9275.
If you feel you have experienced discrimination in the purchase or rental of your home, report it to these agencies:
The Housing Choice Voucher Program (formerly Section 8) is a federally-funded assistance program offering subsidized housing options in the private market to low-income individuals, families, seniors, and persons with disabilities. Program funding is supplied by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Voucher holders generally pay 30 to 40 percent of their annual income for rent. Individuals are free to choose any housing that meets the requirements.
Local Housing Authorities are listed below.
Public housing is a program for eligible low-income families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. In a public housing apartment, you still have to pay rent, but the less money you make, the lower the rent will be. Because public housing is truly affordable housing, and because there is a short supply, it sometimes takes a very long time for there to be a vacancy. Once you start living in public housing, you can stay unless:
you don’t pay the rent;
you break the rules; or
you start making enough money that you can afford to live in the private market.