| What is Fair Housing? |
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Fair housing is the right for all people to have safe, decent housing, and be able to obtain this housing without having limits on where they can live, based on discrimination. City, State, and Federal Laws require that all people have an equal opportunity to buy, rent, or live in housing of their choice as long as they meet bona fide business requirements, such as having adequate income to afford the housing. Federal, State, and City Fair Housing laws prohibit discrimination based on: race, color, disability, religion, national origin, sex, familial status, marital status, age, and creed. A person who feels he or she has been discriminated against in the sale or rental of property can file an administrative complaint with a governmental agency, such as HUD, or the City of Omaha’s Human Rights and Relations Department within one year after the act has occurred. The complaint must be based on the belief that race, color, religion, disability, national origin, sex, familial status, marital status, age or creed was the reason for the alleged discriminatory act. A case may be filed in federal court up to two years after the act has occurred. The Fair Housing Advisory Group helps the City evaluate impediments to fair housing for all citizens. The Omaha-Council Bluffs Consortium Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice 2010 Update is available for review. If you are not sure if discrimination may have occurred in your housing transaction, but think it felt wrong in some way, you can contact:
Fair Housing Advisory Group meetings are held at 2 PM on the third Wednesday of each month at Family Housing Advisory Services located at 2401 Lake Street. The meetings are open to the public. Please contact Jose Garcia (402-934-6669) at least 48 hours before the scheduled meeting if you need special accommodations such as sign language or an alternative format. The buliding is handicap accessible.  |