Fair Housing

Long Island celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act

En Español.

公平住房

Fair Housing assistance

If you believe that you have been discriminated against in seeking housing, please call Long Island Housing Services at 631-567-5111 ext. 375 to speak to a trained Fair Housing Investigator or Advocate or email info@LIFairHousing.org.

Si usted cree que ha sido discriminado al buscar vivienda, llame a Long Island Housing Services al 631-567-5111 ext. 378 para hablar con un investigador o defensor de vivienda justa capacitado. También puede enviar un correo electrónico a info@LIFairHousing.org.

More Fair Housing resources can be found here

Coronavirus Discrimination assistance

In addition, if you believe that you have been discriminated against in housing based on Coronavirus (from a landlord, bank, real estate, insurance company, etc.), please contact Long Island Housing Services at 631-567-5111 ext. 375 or info@LIFairHousing.org to speak to a trained Fair Housing Investigator.

Si usted cree que ha sido discriminado al buscar una vivienda  en base al Coronavirus, por favor llame a los Servicios de Vivienda de Long Island al 631-567-5111 ext. 378 para hablar con un investigador capacitado en equidad de vivienda. También puede escribirnos al  correo electrónico info@LIFairHousing.org.

Know Your Fair Housing Rights

Filing Housing Discrimination Complaints

Fair Housing Complaints may be filed administratively through HUD’s Fair Housing Equal Opportunity Office (FHEO), the New York State Division of Human Rights (NYSDHR), or judicially through Federal or State District Court, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Office of Civil Rights, Dept. of Justice.

The NYS Attorney General’s Office also has the authority to pursue enforcement actions. The different claims, procedures to file, standards of proof and possible venues, outcomes/possible compensation for the victim need to be specified, as they vary.
Complaints to Police

It should be noted that racial, ethnic and religious bias complaints are reportable to the local Police or Bias Crimes Unit. However, possible outcomes and scope of investigation are very different than that of formal fair housing administrative or judicial complaint procedures that may result in substantial monetary compensation for the victims of discrimination.

Fair Housing Laws that protect immigrants, refugees, and people of all religious faiths.

If you believe that you have been discriminated against in seeking housing, please call Long Island Housing Services at 631-567-5111 ext. 375 to speak to a trained Fair Housing Investigator or Advocate or email info@LIFairHousing.org.

Si usted cree que ha sido discriminado al buscar vivienda, llame a Long Island Housing Services al 631-567-5111 ext. 378 para hablar con un investigador o defensor de vivienda justa capacitado. También puede enviar un correo electrónico a info@LIFairHousing.org.

The Fair Housing Act

Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 was amended in 1988 and is now the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988, commonly called the Fair Housing Act. This federal law says that discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, and handicap is illegal in the sale or rental of most dwellings. Mortgage financing and homeowner’s/renter’s insurance are also covered under the law.

The Federal Fair Housing Act, as amended in 1988, includes Sections 800 – 820 and sets forth pertinent provisions related to prohibited discrimination (42 U.S.C. 3601 et seq.), administration and enforcement of the law. Section 818 (42 USC 3617) is the pertinent part of the law, enforceable through civil action, that addresses illegal discrimination beyond transactions conventionally attributable to a housing provider, but for example, may also involve claims against a neighbor:

“It shall be unlawful to coerce, intimidate, threaten, or interfere with any person in the exercise or enjoyment of, or on account of his having aided or encouraged any other person in the exercise or enjoyment of any right granted or protected by Section 803, 804, 805, or 806 of this title.”

This Section 818 (and similar provisions in the NYS Human Rights Law (NYS Executive Law, Article 15, Section 296) also prohibits retaliating against someone who protests discrimination on behalf of self or others.

Civil Rights Act of 1866

Another Federal Law that prohibits racial discrimination is The Civil Rights Act of 1866. Sections 1981 and 1982 apply only to race discrimination, including harassment, intimidation and interference. Some courts have held that religion and national origin may also be prohibited factors for discrimination under this law, if these factors can be shown to have a relationship to race.

The Civil Rights Act of 1866 protects only “citizens.” (Whereas, the Federal Fair Housing Act protects “persons” – victims don’t have to be a citizen to have standing to file.) This 1866 Act is very useful to address racial claims in all real estate and personal property contexts, including the owner-occupied/four-unit or less housing that may be otherwise exempt. Complaints must be filed directly in Court.

Federal Fair Housing Act

The Federal Fair Housing Act and the New York State Human Rights Law include prohibitions about denial of equal opportunity and treatment, aiding/abetting discrimination, harassment and interference for rentals, sales, financing and insurance related to the following protected classes listed below.

 

Local County Law Additions & Exclusions

Suffolk County local laws also prohibit discrimination based on Veteran Status, Status as a Victim of Domestic Violence, or Group Identity. (Group Identity includes actual or perceived age, alienage or citizenship status, gender, sexual orientation, and military status.)

Nassau County has the same protections as federal and State law plus for Veteran’s status, Ethnicity and First Responder Status.

No federal enforcement mechanisms currently exist for challenging source of income discrimination claims.  But practices, although otherwise consistent, may illegally impact protected classes.  Contact Long Island Housing Services for information related to enhanced enforcement provisions of the counties’ local laws or to consult about disparate impact.  Reporting these violations is urged as a way to document the enforcement need in such cases and promote change. 

 

 

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