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, handicap, and in the Commonwealth of Virginia, also elderliness (55 years of age and over). The following resources are available to those living in Harrisonburg:
Fair Housing Laws and Presidential Executive Orders:
Website
Virginia Fair Housing Office:
Website
HUD-Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity in Housing Office:
Website
888-799-2085
Virginia Fair Housing Office - Department of Professional & Occupational Regulations:
Website
888-551-3247
TDD: 804-527-4290
Fair Housing Seminars Offered by the VFHO:
Website
To file a complaint:
http://www.dpor.virginia.gov/File-Complaint/
Harrisonburg Contact:
Kristin McCombe, Grants and Compliance Officer
Kristin.McCombe@harrisonburgva.gov
540-432-7701