Housing Rights – San Joaquin Fair Housing

Fair Housing

is Your Right!

Housing discrimination strikes at the heart of the American dream that everyone can freely choose a place to live without regard to your race, color, age, handicap, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, familial status, national origin or sex.

In our society housing is connected to many critical aspects of our lives. It contributes to our feeling of success or failure. Where we live may also determine what kind of education our children will have; what kinds of professional and social associations we will have in our community; what kinds of physical danger we will be exposed to; and what kinds of job opportunities will be nearby.

FPI-Management_fair-housing-and-equal-opportunity

Federal and state laws prohibit

discrimination based on:

Race
Gender
Religion
Age
National Origin

Sexual Orientation
Source of Income
Color
Familial Status
Marital Status

Ancestry
Perceived Physical or Mental Impairment
Other Arbitrary Basis

Specifically, the Fair Housing Act provides protection against the following discriminatory housing practices if they are based on race, sex, religion, color, handicap, familial status or national origin:

Denying or refusing to rent housing
Denying or refusing to sell housing
Treating differently applicants for housing
Treating residents differently in connection with terms and conditions
Advertising a discriminatory housing preference or limitation
Providing false information about the availability of housing
Harassing, coercing or intimidating people from enjoying or exercising their rights under the Act.
Blockbusting for profit, persuading owners to sell or rent housing by telling them that people of a particular race, religion, etc. are moving into the neighborhood.
Imposing different terms for loans for purchasing, constructing, improving, repairing, or maintaining a home, or loans secured by housing.
Denying use of or participating in real estate services, e.g., brokers’ organizations, multiple listing services, etc.

Additional Protection if You Have a Disability

If you or someone associated with you:

Have a physical or mental disability (including hearing, mobility and visual impairments, chronic alcoholism, chronic mental illness, AIDS, AIDS Related Complex and mental retardation) that substantially limits one or more major life activities
Have a record of such a disability or
Are regarded as having such a disability

your landlord may not:

Refuse to let you make reasonable modifications to your dwelling or common use areas, at your expense, if necessary for the disabled person to use the housing. (Where reasonable, the landlord may permit changes only if you agree to restore the property to its original condition when you move.)
Refuse to make reasonable accommodations in rules, policies, practices or services if necessary for the disabled person to use the housing.

We're here to help!

If you believe you have been the victim of housing discrimination please contact San Joaquin Fair Housing.

Helpful links to Fair Housing information:

Reasonable Accomodations under the Fair Housing Act

Department Of Housing And Urban Development-HUD

State Of California Department Of Fair Employment and Housing-DFEH