At SERI we have been awarded $103,175 in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to help eliminate housing discrimination through the Fair Housing Initiative Program – Education and Outreach Initiative (EOI). Our initiatives will help eliminate biases and prejudices in the community, making our community a place where everyone can live, work, and engage. Limited-income and minority communities are more at risk of housing discrimination as they have the least access to fair housing education, resources, and are affected most by retaliation. During COVID-19 our program is virtual with the exception of sending some direct mail. Through our program individuals receive free educational resources on fair housing including free educational events. To learn more and attend an event please visit our Fair Housing Calendar page. In order to help those who believe they are potential victims of housing discrimination we have a complaint hotline for them to contact. Once received we will review the complaint and then refer the complaint to our regional agency partner, Southwest Fair Housing Council (SWFHC). SWFHC will then assist individuals with allegations of illegal housing discrimination by providing investigative assistance, counseling, mitigation of complaints, and referrals to resources across Arizona.
We have additionally been awarded $20,000 in grant funding from HUD to address the COVID-19 pandemic through Fair Housing Initiatives Program – Education and Outreach Initiative (COVID-19). Historically, during disasters and emergencies, fair housing discrimination and violations increase. The most vulnerable groups during these times are those with disabilities and who are older. Through education and outreach we will help landlords, rental agencies, lenders, insurers, real estate agents, and housing agencies become more knowledgeable and understand the importance of following fair housing laws that protect people from housing discrimination. To learn more and attend an event please visit https://seriaz.org/calendar.
In 1968 the Fair Housing Act (FHA) was signed, making it illegal for people to discriminate in any aspect of housing based on an individuals’ race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, and disability. The FHA defines there as their seven federally protected classes.
The Fair Housing Act applies to when people are renting or buying a home, getting a mortgage, seeking housing assistance, or engaging in any other housing-related transactions.
It is illegal to discriminate in the sale or rental of housing, including against individuals seeking a mortgage or housing assistance, or any other housing-related activities.
The Fair Housing Act prohibits this discrimination because of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, and disability. If you have suffered discrimination from any of the protected classes, speak up! You have rights.
Our Fair Housing hotline is here to help! We will respond within 1 business day.
We will refer your claim to Southwest Fair Housing Council. They offer full-service fair housing services assisting clients with allegations of illegal housing discrimination by providing investigative assistance, counseling, mitigation of complaints, and referrals to resources across Arizona.
We are an Arizona Relay Friendly Business. If you need a reasonable accommodation please contact us.
Did you know? It is illegal to discriminate in housing based on someone’s race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status, and disability. During this class you will learn about the history of fair housing, where fair housing applies, the importance of fair housing work, the seven protected classes, fair housing complaint statistics, fair housing laws, prohibited activities, accessibility features for new construction, use of criminal records, potential signs of discrimination, exemptions to the Fair Housing Act, who is held liable for housing discrimination, fair housing cases, and how to file a fair housing complaint inquiry with SERI. You will receive a certificate for attending the full class.
For general inquiries please contact us at 520-321-9488 or seri@seriaz.org.
Disclaimer
This material is based on work supported by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under FHIP Grant EOI FEOI 210028 and FEO2100215. Any opinion, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of HUD.
Fair Housing