Fair housing laws guarantee that every person has the right to live where they choose to, free from discrimination. The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination against both renters and homeowners because of their race, color, religion, sexual orientation, nationality, disability, or familial status. Many state and local governments have also adopted laws to enhance and expand the protections outlined in the federal Fair Housing Act. Fair housing violations can be brought in many different venues, including state and local courts.
This self-paced, interactive training module is designed to assist state and local court officials in understanding key issues in fair housing. Users will learn about the history and legal underpinnings of fair housing law, review examples of housing discrimination illustrated through brief scenarios, and answer questions to reinforce their knowledge.
Users can also download an overview of fair housing laws for judges and court staff here. This one-page document summarizes the key elements of the Fair Housing Act and its applications in state courts and includes space to add jurisdiction-specific information about local fair housing protections and fair housing organizations
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this module, learners will:
- Be able to recognize different forms of illegal housing discrimination;
- Know legal standards for discrimination under the Fair Housing Act;
- Be familiar with the harmful impacts of discrimination in housing;
- Understand the role of HUD, DOJ and other agencies in enforcing the Fair Housing Act;
- Know where to refer individuals who may have experienced housing discrimination; and
- Recognize some Fair Housing Act issues that may arise in the eviction context.