What is Fair Housing?
Fair housing is a term that refers to the right that people have to choose housing free from unlawful discrimination. It means that housing choices are not restricted by decisions based on characteristics that have nothing to do with housing. Federal, state, and local fair housing laws protect people from discrimination in housing transactions such as rentals, sales, lending, and insurance.
Discrimination in housing and housing-related services is prohibited by both the federal Fair Housing Act and the Virginia Fair Housing Law when it is based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, disability, and in the Commonwealth of Virginia, also elderliness (55 years of age and over), source of funds, sexual orientation, gender identity, and military status.
The City of Harrisonburg does not handle fair housing complaints directly.
Resources for those living in Harrisonburg are available at the following linked pages:
In Virginia: Virginia Fair Housing Office
Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR)
- Report discrimination ("File a Complaint"), access fair housing education ("Outreach and Training"), and more
- Phone: 804-367-8530 or 888-551-3247
- TDD: 7-1-1 or 804-527-4290
Nationwide: Office of Fair Housing & Equal Opportunity
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
- Housing Discrimination Under the Fair Housing Act
- Presidential Executive Orders
- Reporting Housing Discrimination
- Fair Housing Hotline: 800-669-9777
For More Information, Contact:
City of Harrisonburg
Housing Coordinator, Liz Webb
Liz.Webb@harrisonburgva.gov
540-432-7701