How to Report Illegal Housing Discrimination
FHCO assists in issues of illegal housing discrimination in the State of Oregon. Specifically, we evaluate potential violations of the federal Fair Housing Act and associated state & local laws that protect against discriminatory acts and different treatment. Fair Housing laws protect against different treatment in housing based on an individual’s protected status including race, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, disability, marital status, domestic violence survivorship, sexual orientation, gender expression, and source of income.
FHCO is not a law office and does not work in Landlord Tenant Law. If you have a Landlord/Tenant Law complaint or questions, please go to Oregonlawcenter.org or contact your local Legal Aid Services.
If you are currently facing eviction, please contact the Eviction Defense Project at 888-585-9638 or online at oregonlawcenter.org/eviction-defense-project. FHCO refers all current eviction cases to EDP for legal support.
How to Report Illegal Housing Discrimination
FHCO assists in issues of illegal housing discrimination in the State of Oregon. Specifically, we evaluate potential violations of the federal Fair Housing Act and associated state & local laws that protect against discriminatory acts and different treatment. Fair Housing laws protect against different treatment in housing based on an individual’s protected status including race, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, disability, marital status, domestic violence survivorship, sexual orientation, gender expression, and source of income.
FHCO is not a law office and does not work in Landlord Tenant Law. If you have a Landlord/Tenant Law complaint or questions, please go to Oregonlawcenter.org or contact your local Legal Aid Services.
If you are currently facing eviction, please contact the Eviction Defense Project at 888-585-9638 or online at oregonlawcenter.org/eviction-defense-project. FHCO refers all current eviction cases to EDP for legal support.
If you believe that you are a victim of discrimination in housing as defined by Fair Housing Law please use the form below to report your issue. One of our fair housing enforcement staff will respond as soon as possible to gather more information. In the meantime, here are some important things you can do to help prepare for your case:
- Keep a record of all documents, letters, receipts, contracts, emails, voicemail messages, and notices.
- Take pictures of the issue, if possible.
- Get names and numbers of the people involved
- Record details (date(s) of the incident(s), address where it happened, costs you incur, etc)
- Talk to neighbors – you might not be the only person experiencing the issue
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
How to Report Housing Discrimination
Online
You can Report Housing Discrimination with FHEO online in English or Spanish.
Email/Regular Mail
You can download or print this form (also available in Arabic, Chinese, Khmer, Korean, Russian, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese) and email/send it to your local FHEO office at the address on this list.
Phone
You can speak with an FHEO intake specialist by calling 1-800-669-9777 or TTY: 1-800-877-8339.
You can also call your regional FHEO office at the phone numbers on this list.
Information About Reporting Housing Discrimination
If you believe your rights may have been violated, we encourage you to report housing discrimination.
Because there are time limits on when an allegation can be filed with HUD after an alleged violation, you should report housing discrimination as soon as possible.
When reporting housing discrimination, please provide as much information as possible, including:
- Your name and address;
- The name and address of the person(s) or organization your allegation is against;
- The address or other identification of the housing or program involved;
- A short description of the event(s) that cause you to believe your rights were violated; and
- The date(s) of the alleged violation.
Privacy Statement: The information submitted to HUD may be used to investigate and process claims of housing and other types of discrimination. It may be disclosed for lawful investigatory purposes, including to the U.S. Department of Justice for its use in the filing of pattern and practice suits of housing discrimination or the prosecution of the person(s) who committed the discrimination where violence is involved; the public, where appropriate; and to State or local fair housing agencies that administer substantially equivalent fair housing laws for allegation processing. Though disclosure of the information is voluntary, failure to provide some or all of the requested information may result in the delay or denial of help with your housing discrimination allegation.
It is illegal to retaliate against any person for making an allegation, testifying, assisting, or participating in any manner in a proceeding under HUD’s allegation process at any time, even after the investigation has been completed. The Fair Housing Act also makes it illegal to retaliate against any person because that person reported a discriminatory practice to a housing provider or other authority. If you believe you have experienced retaliation, you can report housing discrimination.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities
HUD provides a toll-free teletypewriter (TTY) line: 1-800-877-8339. You can also ask for disability-related assistance when you contact FHEO, including reasonable accommodations and auxiliary aids and services.
Assistance for Persons with Limited English Proficiency
You can report housing discrimination in any language. For persons with limited English proficiency, HUD provides interpreters. HUD also provides a Spanish language version of the online report housing discrimination form. You can find descriptions of your fair housing rights in several languages other than English here.
Types of Allegations Investigated by FHEO
FHEO investigates allegations, which may be one or both of the following types:
- Discrimination under the Fair Housing Act (including housing that is privately owned and operated)
- Discrimination and other civil rights violations in housing and community development programs, including those funded by HUD
| Allegations Involving Discrimination under the Fair Housing Act | |
|
How Your Rights May Have Been Violated |
Discrimination in renting or buying a home, getting a mortgage, seeking housing assistance, or engaging in other housing-related activities |
|
Applicable Law and Protected Classes |
Fair Housing Act (race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), familial status, disability) |
|
Who May File an Allegation |
Anyone who has been or will be harmed by a discriminatory housing practice |
|
Who May Have an Allegation Filed Against Them |
Property owners, property managers, developers, real estate agents, mortgage lenders, homeowners associations, insurance providers, and others who affect housing opportunities |
| Allegations Involving Discrimination in Housing and Community Development Programs | |
|
How Your Rights May Have Been Violated |
Discrimination and other violations of civil rights in HUD programs (for example, failure to ensure meaningful access by persons with limited English proficiency) |
|
Applicable Laws and Protected Classes |
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (race, color, national origin); Section 109 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (race, color, national origin, religion, sex); Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (disability); Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (disability); Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 (disability); Age Discrimination Act of 1975 (age); Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 (sex) |
|
Who May File a Allegation |
Anyone |
|
Who May Have an Allegation Filed Against Them |
Any recipient or subrecipient of HUD financial assistance, States, local governments, and private entities operating housing and community development and other types of services, programs, or activities |