Need Help? Your Rights and What To Do
Why Contact HOPE:
Everyone who lives in America is protected from discrimination in housing, lending, home appraisal, insurance, and accessibility. Fair housing means you may freely choose a place to live without regard to your race, color, religion, sex, national origin or because you are disabled or have children in your family.
Where we live affects how others view us and how we view ourselves. In our society, housing is connected to many critical aspects of life, it contributes to our feeling of success or failure. Where we live determines many things:
- 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
- What kinds of values and expectations will be opened to us
- What kinds of job opportunities will be nearby
Examples of Housing Discrimination:
- Denial of, or lying about the availability of housing, home loans or home insurance
- Be suspicious when renting if you hear lines like: "We can’t take care of disabled or handicapped people here."
- Also be suspicious when buying a home if you hear lines like: "I'll need more detailed financial information before I can show you homes."
- Illegal steering based on Race or National Origin
- Race Based appraisals
- Constructing inaccessible buildings
- Discriminating housing advertisements saying, "no children allowed" or "Couples preferred"
- Offering different terms or conditions based on one of the protected classes.
How HOPE Can Help:
HOPE is here to help you investigate your complaint.
- We listen to your experience
- Evaluate your case
- Inform you of your rights and options
When Appropriate HOPE Can:
- Investigate and/ or test your claim of housing discrimination
- Assist you with the filing of HUD complaint
- Help conciliate your case with the offending party
- Refer your case to attorneys that are experts in fair housing litigation.
Housing Discrimination is Illegal!
If you feel you are being treated unfairly, take the following steps:
- Document in writing, meetings and phone calls with landlords, property managers, real estate agents, loan officers and insurance agents.
- Keep detailed records as to what was said and the outcome.
- Save all receipts, copies of applications, business cards and other documents.
- Contact HOPE Fair Housing Center via Contact Us
or call Toll Free: 1-877-HOPE FHC
- HOPE does not charge for its investigative services
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