Knowing More Video Series: Your Guide to Understanding Fair Housing
Welcome to our ‘Knowing More’ series for Section 8 residents – an educational journey designed to deepen your understanding of fair housing.
Do you live in Section 8 housing?
Living in Section 8 housing comes with its own unique set of rights and responsibilities. Our ‘Knowing More’ video series is an invaluable resource for you as a resident.
It provides clear, insightful information on your rights under fair housing laws and practical guidance on your responsibilities as a Section 8 resident. This series is crucial in helping you navigate the complexities of Section 8 housing, ensuring you are well-informed and empowered to make the most of your living situation.
Whether it’s understanding how to report maintenance issues, knowing your protections against discrimination, or engaging effectively with housing authorities, this series is designed to support and educate you every step of the way.
Section 8 Fundamentals
Dive into our introductory series, where we lay the groundwork for understanding your rights under fair housing laws and your responsibilities as a Section 8 resident. These videos cover the basics, ensuring a solid foundation for more complex topics.
Featured Episodes
Religious Discrimination in Housing
Learn about the challenges individuals face due to religious discrimination in housing and the legal frameworks that protect against such biases.
Section 8 Resident Rights and Responsibilities: Your Apartment
In this video, we dive into the rights you have as a resident in a HUD-assisted multifamily housing property. Understanding these rights is crucial for ensuring your living conditions are up to standard and fair.
Understanding Protected Classes
Understand who is safeguarded by this crucial legislation and what it means for you as a HUD-assisted resident. This video clearly explains each protected class, highlighting the importance of equal treatment in housing. Don’t forget to subscribe for more insights, and join us in advocating for fair housing rights.
Featured Blog Posts
- Understanding HUD Guidance on Credit and Fair Housing Implications: Ensuring Equity in Rental HousingRegarding tenant screening, housing providers have long used credit reports as an indicator of an applicant’s financial reliability. However, the use of credit history in determining housing eligibility can inadvertently… Read more: Understanding HUD Guidance on Credit and Fair Housing Implications: Ensuring Equity in Rental Housing
- Understanding HUD’s Guidance on Screening Applicants for Rental Housing: A Fair Housing PerspectiveThe U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) guidance promotes fair practices in the tenant screening process for rental housing. This guidance emphasizes the importance of following the Fair… Read more: Understanding HUD’s Guidance on Screening Applicants for Rental Housing: A Fair Housing Perspective
- Understanding Fraud, Abuse, Errors, and Omissions in Section 8 HousingMaintaining integrity in the Section 8 housing program is crucial to ensure that assistance reaches those who need it most. However, confusion often arises between what constitutes fraud and abuse versus errors and omissions. This blog post aims to clarify these terms and highlight their implications for Section 8 applicants and residents.
- National Fair Housing Month 2024April is National Fair Housing Month. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Fair Housing Act into law on April 11, 1968. That is 56 years ago today! Now is the… Read more: National Fair Housing Month 2024
- Source of Income Discrimination TestingExpanding Fair Housing: A Look at Source of Income Discrimination A recent memorandum by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) made a significant clarification regarding using Fair… Read more: Source of Income Discrimination Testing
Log a Resident Concern
Residents of HUD-assisted housing have certain rights and responsibilities. One of the rights is the ability to file concerns with management, owners, or government agencies without retaliation, harassment or intimidation.
Playlist for Section 8 Residents
Click on the playlist icon in the top right of the video frame to see a full list of videos.
Fair Housing FAQs
Residents
How can I file a fair housing complaint?
- Online: You can file online in English or Spanish.
- Email: You can also download a form (also available in Arabic, Cambodian, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese) and email it to your local FHEO office at the email address on this list.
- Phone: Talk to an FHEO specialist: 1-800-669-9777 (or 1-800-927-9275 for TTY).
- Mail: Print this form (also available in Arabic, Cambodian, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese) and mail it to your regional FHEO office at the address on this list.
Learn more about the process here.
I worry that if I file, I will lose my housing.
According to HUD, retaliation is illegal. It is illegal to retaliate against any person for making a complaint, testifying, assisting, or participating in any manner in a proceeding under HUD’s complaint 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 file a complaint.
What types of complaints will the FHEO investigate?
- Discrimination under the Fair Housing Act
- How Rights Violated: Discrimination in renting or buying a home, getting a mortgage, seeking housing assistance, or engaging in other housing-related activities
- Applicable Laws: Fair Housing Act (race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, disability)
- Who Can File: Anyone who has been or will be harmed by a discriminatory housing practice
- Who May Have A Complaint Filed Against Them: Property owners, property managers, developers, real estate agents, mortgage lenders, homeowners associations, insurance providers, and others who affect housing opportunities
- Discrimination in Housing and Community Development Programs
- How Rights 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: 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 Can File: Anyone
- Who May Have A Complaint 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
How can I learn about the Complaint Process?
Should I get help before filing a complaint?
HUD has provided a list of resources in case you do decide to seek help prior to filing a complaint.
How do I file a complaint in languages other than English?
Managers
Where can I find posters and brochures to make residents aware of their fair housing rights?
HUD has an entire page dedicated to outreach tools.