housing discrimination attorney florida housing discrimination attorney florida

Since arriving, Ken has worked with a wide assortment of talented lawyers, paralegals, and law students to grow LegalMatch's Law Library into a comprehensive source of legal information, written in a way that is accessible to everyone. Hold on to any paperwork, e-mails, receipts, and text messages that show proof of the discriminatory actions. Examples of dissemination of false information include incorrectly stating that there are no units available, or suggesting that people who are looking to buy in one area instead buy in another based on their race. By Marcia Stewart. Real estate agents, brokers, landlords or anyone in the housing business has violated these laws if they encourage a homeowner to sell or rent with discriminatory intent. People with disabilities are also protected when they seek housing. When your rights are not upheld, let me help you take the necessary actions to hold the discriminatory parties accountable for their behavior. Call the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) at 800-669-9777 (TTY: 800-927-9275), or visit HUD complaint page for information about filing a complaint. No one should have to choose between housing and sexual harassment. Please call 404-633-5114 or contact us online for a free consultation at our Atlanta office. 60604 Please Enter Area Code Plus First Three digits followed by last 4 digits. Some housing may be subject to the accessibility requirements of other laws, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and local building codes. Law, Insurance The building manager must allow her to keep the guide dog as a reasonable accommodation. While the process described below applies to HUD investigations, you can reasonably expect a somewhat similar procedure from your HUD-certified local agency. We also represent fair housing organizations who are seeking to remedy discrimination. Represented a business owner in a Denver, Colorado litigation concerning the theft of his company by former corporate employees, resulting in a multi-million dollar settlement to the business owner. You can choose to be represented by the HUDs appointed legal council or your own attorney. Please contact us for legal assistance with that information at, If you live in HUD-assisted housing such as public housing, project based section 8 housing, Section 202 and 811 supportive housing for the elderly and people with disabilities, and are experiencing domestic violence, you have options that will help you to keep your housing or allow you to move for safety reasons. padding:1px; This extends to other housing related activities including the dissemination of false information about the availability of housing. Thank you for reaching out. This choice must be made within 20 days of the date you received notice of the determination. Law, Government There. Filing a private lawsuit is another option you can pursue in case of rental housing discrimination. 312.341.9646, Woolworth Building (1) Quid Pro Quo, or This for That, harassment is when a housing provider asks for sex or sexual favors to avoid eviction or in exchange for free rent, repairs, excused late payments or fees, etc. https://www.justice.gov/crt/fair-housing-act-1, The Department of Housing and Urban Development has a simpler breakdown of the, https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp/fair_housing_act_overview. Read a summary of the Federal Fair Housing Act on the Department of Justice website: https://www.justice.gov/crt/fair-housing-act-1 External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein. The Office of Customer Service will complete a charge form, as applicable, for your signature and mail it to you at the address listed on the questionnaire. The Fair Housing Act is a federal law that prohibits housing and housing-related discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, gender, familial status, or disability. Attorneys 58; Law Firms 57; Articles 0; The Fair Housing Act does not protect those who use drugs illegally, only people who have successfully completed a treatment program are covered under the law (as described by the. We work with you hand in hand to achieve the best outcome in your situation without charging a dime until weve secured compensation for you. It is not always easy to ascertain whether or not housing discrimination has taken place. } ); A landlord or seller tells you their property is no longer available, yet it is still listed as for rent or for sale; A landlord or seller makes presumptions about your income, family status, or criminal history based upon your race,color, or national origin; A landlord has many listed rentals but refuses to show you certain units, will only show you the lower-quality units, or will only show you units near others of your samerace, color, or national origin; A landlord or seller tells you that you might be more comfortable in a different neighborhood; Advertisements for a property show a preference for a specific race, color, or national origin; or. Additionally, it is prohibited to select tenants based on their familial status, such as having children, or their marital status. State and federal law prohibit discrimination in the sale and rental of housing by property owners, landlords, property managers, mortgage lenders, and real estate agents. A landlord only wants English-speaking tenants. The complaint is an allegation of unlawful conduct. To file a complaint or learn more about the process, go to HUDs, https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp/online-complaint, You can also speak with a HUD intake specialist at, HUD will send you a written report notifying you of its findings once the investigation is over. Zola - View site in new window. A landlord requiring that an interracial couple utilize application criteria that is more burdensome than that required of other applicants; A bank refuses to provide loan information to a person based on their protected class; A real estate broker acting on behalf of a contractor publishes the availability of a newly built housing complex as being for white tenants only. Carlo D. Marichal is Housing Discrimination attorney serving Plantationand surrounding cities. 1974). You can do this on a federal or state level. These protections apply in most private housing, state and local government housing, public housing and any other federally-assisted housing programs and activities. Law Practice, Attorney Title II of the ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in all programs, services, and activities provided or made available by public entities (state and local governments and special purpose districts). display: none; } If HUD determines that housing discrimination has occurred, the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division can bring the case to Federal Court. ) HUD and Housing Discrimination The Office of Management Information Systems and The Public Information Office, manages this site as a portal for information from the Florida Commission on Human Relations. #nf-form-2-cont .nf-error-field-errors { It is against the law to do any of the following based on race, color, national origin, sex, handicap, familial status, or religion: Falsely deny that housing is available for inspection, rental or sale, Impose different conditions or terms on a loan, Threaten, coerce or intimidate any individual exercising a fair housing right, Refuse reasonable changes to your dwelling to accommodate a disability, (Under Chapter 760 of the Florida Statutes and the federal and Florida Fair Housing Act). Make housing unavailable or deny that housing is available; Set different terms, conditions or privileges for the sale or rental of housing, a mortgage, home loan, home insurance or any other housing transaction; Threaten, coerce, or intimidate anyone exercising a fair housing right or assisting others in exercising those rights; and. Ken is an active member of the American Bar Association, San Francisco Bar Association, and the California Lawyers for the Arts. If you believe that you have been discriminated against in housing and need legal advice or assistance. Gainesville, FL 32601. Represented individuals who have been discriminated against in Fair Housing cases. History of the Florida Commission on Human Relations. Speak with one of our experienced and compassionate staff members who will listen, advise and assist you. A disability is defined in the Fair Housing Act as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of a persons major life activities. Major life activities can include caring for ones self, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, and working. If you have been discriminated against while renting or buying a home in violation of the Fair Housing Act, you have the right to pursue compensation for all quantifiable damages that follow. Familial status means having children under age 18 in the household. The Fair Housing Act does not protect those who use drugs illegally, only people who have successfully completed a treatment program are covered under the law (as described by the Housing Equality Center). "Discrimination, completely," said Zipporah Hayes, one of the housing testers who went looking for an apartment at the Elite Riverview Apartments, at NW 27th Avenue in Miami. This is called a Letter of Findings. If you, or the party you filed the complaint against, disagree with the information presented in the Letter of Findings you have. In late June, Congresswoman Maxine Waters introduced House Resolution 6220, which if passed, would restore a number of fair housing protections that were eliminated by the Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) over the last two years. If you have questions or concerns over whether you were unfairly treated, reach out to us. Housing discrimination is the illegal act of refusing to rent or sell a dwelling to someone based on their gender, race, skin color, religion, familial status (single, married, divorced), or disability. Housing Discrimination Alexander C. Safarian California Alex Safarian is a partner at Block LLP with extensive civil litigation experience. I asked him to stop. Some housing may be subject to the accessibility requirements of other laws, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and local building codes. } Back; Search Tools. The following are examples of sexual harassment in housing: Here are some examples from Department of Justice Website. display: none; } You do not have to report the discrimination on your own. (844) 542-7235 South Florida's Premier Consumer Protection Law Firm "We are the civil police that monitors and modifies bad corporate behavior. Through our aggressive enforcement of consumer protection and civil rights laws, we seek to make a significant difference in people's lives." No Upfront Attorney Fees or Costs Additionally, hang on to any documents or communications relating to the discrimination, such as leases, letters of denial, emails, or text messages. There are state and federal laws in place that make it illegal to deny someone housing based solely on the above mentioned characteristics. (For more information on what housing is covered, go to https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/housing/mfh/violence_against_women_act). . #nf-form-2-cont .nf-row { to ensure your inquiries is thoroughly investigated. refers to whether a person is White, Black/African American, Asian, American Indian or an Alaska Native, a Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, or some mixture of two or more of these groups. Housing discrimination is illegal, but its not always easy to prove. Contact me. It is against the law to do any of the following based on disability: The Fair Housing Act requires multi-family housing built for first occupancy after March 13, 1991 to have certain accessibility features. It is illegal for housing providers to discriminate against you based on your mental, physical, or intellectual disability. Ste 2201 Housing Discrimination Inquiry Form. Some housing is set aside for people who are aged 55 or older. The Florida Commission on Human Relations has the authority to conduct Fair Housing discrimination investigations within the state of Florida except for the following counties and cities: City of Orlando Office of Human Relations (City of Orlando), 400 South Orange AvenueOrlando, FL 32801Phone: 407-246-2122 Fax: 407-246-2308Website: http://www.cityoforlando.net/, 306 E. Jackson Street Tampa, FL 33602 Phone: 813-274-5835 Fax: 813-274-5854 Website: http://www.tampagov.net, Jacksonville Human Rights Commission (Duval County), 117 West Duval Street, Suite 350 Jacksonville, FL 32202 Phone: 904-630-4911 Fax: 904-630-4918 TTY: 904-630-4125 Website: http://www.coj.net/jhrc, Palm Beach County Office of Equal Opportunity (Palm Beach County), 301 North Olive Avenue, 10th Floor West Palm Beach, FL 33401 Phone: 561-355-4884 Fax: 561-355-4932 TTY: 561-355-1517 Website: http://www.pbcgov.com/equalopportunity, 400 S. Ft. Harrison Avenue, 5th Floor Clearwater, FL 33756 Phone: 727-464-4880 Fax: 727-464-5298 TTY: 727-464-4062 Website: http://www.pinellascounty.org/humanrights/, Broward County Office of Equal Opportunity (Broward County), 115 South Andrews Avenue, Room 427 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301-1883 Phone : 954-357-7800 Fax: 954-357-7817http://www.broward.org/Intergovernmental/Pages/EmploymentHousingDiscrimination.aspx. HUDs Equal Access rule may also protect LGBTQ+ citizens if their housing provider receives HUD funding or has a HUD-insured loan. This will be issued if HUDs investigation did not find sufficient evidence to support a reasonable belief that discrimination occurred. While there is no formal process written into the Fair Housing Act to appeal this decision, HUD allows you to request a reconsideration by writing to: Director, FHEO Office of Enforcement, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street, SW, Room 5226, Washington, DC 20410-2000. in full, contained in Florida Statutes 760.20-760.37. categories. Your application will be denied, or you will have been discouraged from renting/purchasing housing because of your race, color, national origin, gender, handicap, familial status, religion, criminal history, or source of income. 16 people have successfully posted their cases, 5 people have successfully posted their cases, 10 people have successfully posted their cases, 6 people have successfully posted their cases, 20 people have successfully posted their cases, 7 people have successfully posted their cases, 9 people have successfully posted their cases, Can't find your category? Stay up-to-date with how the law affects your life. Equal access to housing is a civil right protected by law on both state and federal levels. FindLaw.com Free, trusted legal information for consumers and legal professionals, SuperLawyers.com Directory of U.S. attorneys with the exclusive Super Lawyers rating, Abogado.com The #1 Spanish-language legal website for consumers, LawInfo.com Nationwide attorney directory and legal consumer resources. Here are some more examples of discrimination that you may encounter when trying to rent or purchase housing: You are told there are no pets allowed when you have a service animal, A landlord tells you one thing on the phone but changes the previous terms, pricing, or availability upon seeing you in person, A landlord refuses to provide you necessary parking accommodations, A landlord refuses to accept a voucher, like Section 8, to pay your rent, A landlord falsely denies that housing is available for rent or sale, You are told you are unable to make physical changes to your unit to accommodate your disability, The landlord tells you that kids are not welcome in the community. is a request to your housing provider in order to change rules, policies, practices, or services so that a person with a disability will have an equal opportunity to use and enjoy their home or common space. How do I know if I have been discriminated against/illegally denied housing in Florida? However, discriminatory behavior on behalf of a real estate agent, broker, landlord, seller, or other party involved in the process can hinder your ability to secure housing and leave you unsure of where to turn. Complaints must be filed within one year of the last date of the alleged discrimination. Under the Fair Housing Act, lenders, property managers, and landlords in South Florida are obliged to treat people equally and provide reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities. Ken holds a J.D. The owner of the home I rent makes comments about my body, clothes, and the sexual acts they want me to perform on them. The Fair Housing Act, which was originally adopted in 1968, prohibits discrimination in house sales, rentals, and financing on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. The Florida Fair Housing Act does not provide new protected traits. Evicting families from an apartment or mobile home park because it wants to change to a senior-only apartment or mobile home park. Heres how you can help your case: Keep a record of the housing discrimination: write notes detailing who was involved and exactly what happened. According Read More , The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently reopened an investigation into Facebooks advertising practices. Learn more about housing rights and responsibilities. I came home one day and found him naked in my bed. However, it has since extended to cover all protected classes. margin:10px; Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida, Inc. can assist you with filing a complaint with the Department of Housing and Urban Development or you may file the complaint yourself. You have two years from the date of the alleged discrimination to file a civil suit. Not only do I have the professional experience to skillfully represent you, but I have a personal connection to disability discrimination that allows me to understand your perspective. Get direction for filing a HUD complaint in languages other than English by clicking here. Unlike discrimination against some of the other protected classes, racial discrimination in the housing industry is not always easy to spot. Section 504 covers all programs and activities of recipients of HUD financial assistance, including, for example: Federal law makes it illegal for an otherwise qualified individual with a disability, solely because of his or her disability, to be excluded from the participation in, denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. display:block; The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is suing ExxonMobil over racial discrimination after multiple nooses were found at one of the company's facilities. In such cases, both the broker and the contractor would be engaging in discriminatory behavior; A landlord advertising an apartment for sale and confirms with an inquiring couple, on the phone, that the unit is available. Discrimination in the United States can arise in many settings and involve a wide range of issues, including: Use FindLaw's attorney directory to find a local discrimination lawyer to ensure you are treated equally and that you receive the protection you are granted by anti-discrimination laws. The former No. According to the Fair Housing Trends Report, there were31,202 complaintsin 2018, which marked the highest amount since the report began in 1995. The Commission was established by the Florida Legislature to investigate and resolve discrimination complaints in the areas of: If you would like more information on how we can help,click the button and fill out the form.A staff member will get back to you. Read below for more information. Traditional and non-traditional families, such as single-parent families or two same-sex parents; Persons in the process of securing legal custody of children through foster care, adoption, or divorce; and. If you are the victim of prohibited discrimination, you may file a complaint with your state's fair housing agency, local Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO), or HUD three different ways:. A person with a disability must notify the housing provider if they need a reasonable accommodation, and the housing provider must grant the request if it is reasonable. width:350px; Housing policies, practices, terms and conditions must allow people with disabilities equal access to apartments, houses, condos and other dwellings. TALLAHASSEE Florida lawmakers next week will start the annual 60-day legislative session. More From HUD We can discuss your legal options today. You can print out a form (903.1), complete it, and drop it or mail it to: Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Department of Housing and Urban Development Room 5204 451 Seventh St. SW Washington, DC 20410-2000 You can write us a letter with: Your name and address In early August, HR 6220 was referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution Read More , In late June, the National Fair Housing Alliance, 19 other housing groups, and two Maryland homeowners filed a lawsuit against Bank of America, alleging that the financial institution violated the Fair Housing Act (FHA) by intentionally failing to maintain foreclosed homes in minority neighborhoods, despite consistently maintaining similar properties in primarily white areas. The FHA applies to the following circumstances: Additionally, the Fair Housing Act makes it illegal to: There are four major exceptions to the Fair Housing Act: If you feel you have been discriminated against, it is important that you begin by filing a complaint with the Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO). The Fair Housing Act (along with its amendments) states that property owners, financial institutions, and landlords may not discriminate on the basis of race, color, or national origin. race), or, for example, a racially restrictive covenant contained in a real estate deed or contract. Your complaint should include the facts that prove why you believe you were violated. Represented doctors in discrimination cases against their employers. If you are unsure whether you may have been discriminated against based on your race, color or national origin, please, Disabilities may also include mental or emotional illness, difficulties associated with aging, HIV/AIDS, recovering alcoholism or drug addiction.