(209) 451-3471
P.O BOX 30006 | Stockton, CA 95213
(209) 451-3471
P.O BOX 30006 | Stockton, CA 95213

About Us

Story About Us
Where it all began

Who are We?

San Joaquin Fair Housing Inc. has been in existence for over three decades. Incorporated in 1983 as a nonprofit to fulfill the Federal Government’s Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) requirements under CDBG funding to further Fair Housing in the community. We strive to provide education, mediation, housing assistance, complaint investigation, and resolution. We do this by working alongside property managers, property owners, City and County Code Enforcement, Public Health, Human Services Agency, and Housing Authority of San Joaquin. The Program has evolved to include education and testing in Fair Housing practices to fulfill the national and local CDBG objectives to affirmatively further Fair Housing within our community.

Make Big Impact

San Joaquin Fair Housing anticipates that the program will provide services to 6,960 individuals/families that total 23,450 household members during the 2020 – 2021 fiscal year. Those numbers will be higher if San Joaquin Fair Housing can secure additional funding to hire additional staff.

Tackling Discrimination

There are no other programs to provide testing as a tool for investigation of discrimination complaints to ensure that discrimination does not hinder individuals from renting adequate housing within our county. We are exclusive in providing a comprehensive tenant and landlord education program and/or mediation services as an alternative to the legal system, free of charge.

Safe & Affordable

We as a county have agreed that housing expenses shouldn’t be more than 30% of what you earn, leaving 70% of your income for food, clothing, transportation and other necessities. If you spend more than 30% of your income on housing expenses, you are considered “overburdened”.

What is the Fair Housing Act?

The Fair Housing Act is a federal law that protects certain categories of people from unfair treatment in housing situations. The Act became law in 1968 and was expanded in 1974 and 1988. Its original purpose was to prohibit housing discrimination based on race. Prior to 1968, the practice of redlining kept Black Americans segregated in separate communities. Redlining is marking areas on a map to show where mortgages are unavailable because of the makeup of a neighborhood. Most complaints reviewed by the U.S. Justice Department still involve racial discrimination.

 

The law was updated in 1974 to prohibit discrimination based on gender. In 1988 the law was updated again to add family status and disability as protected classes.

Who is protected by the Fair Housing Act?

The Fair Housing Act says you may not discriminate based on these protected categories:

  • Race
  • Color
  • Religion
  • Sex, including sexual harassment
  • Nationality
  • Family status
  • Disability

These categories are complex, and cover wide populations. For example, if a landlord refuses to provide new locks for a domestic violence victim, that may be sex discrimination. The “sex” category also protects against discrimination based on gender identity. Discrimination that happens when a housing provider mistakenly believes you’re in one of these protected categories is also illegal.

Depending on where you live, state and local laws augment federal Fair Housing law. For example, your area might prohibit illegal housing discrimination based on:

  • Sexual orientation
  • Criminal history
  • Immigration status
  • Lawful occupation
  • Age
  • Creed
  • Marital status
  • Military status
  • Lawful source of income

Not every characteristic is protected the same way. For example, although familial status is protected, a landlord can enforce legal occupancy limits. In many areas, two people per bedroom is considered fair. So a couple with three children may legally be turned away from a two-bedroom unit.

Similarly, age is protected, but behaviors that make you an unsuitable tenant are not. The landlord can’t refuse to show an available unit to an elderly person, but can refuse to rent to that prospective tenant if their previous landlord says the tenant frequently left the stove on or forgot to pay the rent.

Rental housing landlords are allowed to discriminate against people with unprotected characteristics. That includes prospective tenants who:

  • Smoke
  • Have pets
  • Lie on an application
  • Lack stable employment
  • Lack sufficient income
  • Have poor credit
  • Refuse a credit check
  • Have a poor rental history

San Joaquin Fair Housing provides mediation and counseling at no charge which benefits ourcommunity who otherwise may not be able to afford these services. In addition, we provide outreach and education through our involvement at Community resource events/fairs, seminars. We also schedule Tenant and Landlord workshops for the community. Through our endeavors we are able to serve all members of all neighborhoods with the ultimate goal of avoiding the eviction process for both tenants and landlords.

Board of Directors

Melinda HazardBoard Chairperson

Darryle Oakman – Vice Chairperson

Chris Becerra  – Secretary/Treasurer

Dennis Lee

Monica Sousa

Virginia Jimenez

Executive Team

Executive Director
Director