Fair Housing: Understanding Your State and Local Protected Classes

Understanding Fair Housing begins with the Fair Housing Act, the federal law that prohibits discrimination on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, and familial status. But it doesn’t stop there. Knowing your state and/or locally protected classes is critical, too. Does your state have protections in place based on source of income, age, or marital status? Have you researched and found reliable sources for state and local requirements, including government websites, attorney general websites, fair housing associations and apartment associations? Are you familiar with your state fair housing law? Even with the best intentions, practicing fair housing can be a challenge. Understanding your state and local requirements will help you treat all prospective residents and residents fairly, equally, and consistently.  In this series of courses you will learn: How to recognize and avoid source of income discrimination in housing How to recognize and avoid age discrimination in housing How to recognize and avoid marital status discrimination in housing How local nuisance ordinances may lead to housing discrimination against survivors of domestic violence and other persons in need of emergency services, and how to apply HUD guidelines to protect them Where to find fair housing resources to answer questions about state and local protected classes