New York Housing Discrimination Lawyer
The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing because of race or color, national origin, religion, gender, familial status and disability. The Fair Housing Act covers most housing. The Sanders Firm, P.C., is available to advise and represent persons alleging housing discrimination.
Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (FHA)
Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 aka the “FHA”, prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of dwellings, and in other housing-related transactions, based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status (including children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women, and people securing custody of children under the age of 18), and handicap (disability).
The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development aka “HUD” enforces the FHA.
Persons alleging claims of housing discrimination under the FHA may also assert violations of the following federal statutes:
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance);
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504 prohibits discrimination based on disability in any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance);
Section 109 of Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (Section 109 prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex or religion in programs and activities receiving financial assistance from HUD’s Community Development and Block Grant Program);
Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (Title II prohibits discrimination based on disability in programs, services, and activities provided or made available by public entities. HUD enforces Title II when it relates to state and local public housing, housing assistance and housing referrals);
Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 (The Architectural Barriers Act requires that buildings and facilities designed, constructed, altered, or leased with certain federal funds after September 1969 must be accessible to and useable by handicapped persons);
Age Discrimination Act of 1975 (The Age Discrimination Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of age in programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance); and
Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 (Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance)
State and City Laws
The New York State Human Rights Law (NYSHRL) and New York City Human Rights Law apply and offer broader protections.
Persons alleging claims of housing discrimination under the NYSHRL may also assert similar violations with the following state agency:
Division of Housing & Community Renewal, Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (Contract Compliance Unit – the CCU implements Executive Law Article 15-A to ensure the participation of minority and women-owned business enterprises (M/WBEs) in contracts for construction, commodities and professional services with housing entities under DHCR supervision); and the (Fair Housing Unit – the FHU seeks to promote fair housing and equal housing opportunity by requiring awardees of capital program funding and tax credits to comply with State and Federal civil rights laws in the marketing of the low income housing they develop).
If you feel that you’ve been the victim of housing discrimination, or would like to have an attorney review your documents to ensure that your rights are protected, contact the New York Housing Discrimination Lawyer at The Sanders Firm, P.C., 800-371-4835, today
