Much of the work we do at SDHP is teaching other social service providers and landlords all about fair housing. None of this would be possible without the passage of Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 known as the Fair Housing Act. This act established individuals cannot be discriminated against in any housing transaction based on the following protected classes: race, class, color, national origin, disability, familial status, sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Many other statutes and regulations, even executive orders have expanded on these rights. Learn more this month by attending one of our free webinars that teach the nuances of fair housing and how it may come up in your work!
April 7, 10:00 AM Tenants’ Rights: Fair Housing and Beyond
April 12, 10:00 AM Assistance Animals Explained
April 20, 12:00 PM Eviction Prevention and Processes
Be sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn for insider tips on fair housing all month long!
Agency Spotlight: Fair Housing Law Center
In recognition of Fair Housing Month 2022, we are honored to highlight the Fair Housing Law Center. Located in Washington County, FHLC operates in 28 counties in Western Pennsylvania as well as four counties in West Virginia. Operated by Southwestern Pennsylvania Legal Aid, FHLC has been a major asset to Pennsylvania since 2005. Their mission is to “identify and eliminate housing discrimination through education, advocacy, and enforcement efforts”.
FHLC works tirelessly to uphold the Fair Housing Act through a combination of education, training, and advocacy efforts. One of their well-known initiatives is their Tester Program. In this program, trained Fair Housing Testers measure landlords for discrimination by acting as renters who fall into a protected class. The testers complete reports, which are then reviewed by FHLC staff. Further action is taken against landlords as needed.
FHLC Deputy Director Jaime Milligan shared that complaints alleging discrimination because of disability continue to account for the largest number of complaints, at 54.56%. Discrimination based on disability is usually overt, making it easier to detect and more practical to file a complaint. In the last grant year, they successfully resolved 25 reasonable accommodation or modification cases, referred 7 reasonable accommodation/modification denials to either Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC) or HUD, and filed one complaint in federal court. These numbers are a great reminder of both the prevalence of these discriminations as well as the need for the services that agencies such as FHLC provides.
For more information on the Fair Housing Law Center, including how to become a tester and how to report discrimination, check out their website at fhlaw.org or give them a call at 1-877-725-4472
Berks - Lancaster - Lebanon LINK Service Area 