Fair Housing & Equal Opportunity
See all Fair Housing videos
The Fair Housing Act of 1968 was established to eliminate discrimination in housing opportunities and to affirmatively further housing choices for all Americans.
It is illegal to discriminate in housing based on the following:
- Race
- Color
- National Origin
- Sex
- Religion
- Physical or Mental Disability
- Familial Status (e.g. the presence of children under the age of 18, pregnant female, foster/adoptive families, or those becoming foster/adoptive families)
Federal and state laws protect you against housing discrimination and intimidation. These laws apply to activities which include the following:
- Renting
- Buying
- Advertising
- Financing
- Purchasing Property
- Insurance
- Building Accessible Housing
It is unlawful for any person, including, but not limited to, owners, landlords, agents, real estate brokers, real estate salespersons, trustees, mortgagors, financial institution, title companies and/or insurance companies to discriminate against any person in the sale, lease, rental, or any other transaction involving housing.
You may have experienced housing discrimination if...
- you are told the apartment is not available to inspect, but a “for rent” sign is displayed.
- the manager takes your application and promises to call you, but your phone never rings.
- you have a service animal (such as a guide dog) and you are told “No pets allowed.”
- the landlord or real estate agent explains why another place would be better for you.
- your condo or homeowners association won’t let you make physical modifications to your unit to meet your disability.
- a lender imposes different terms and conditions on a mortgage loan (such as interest rates or application procedures).
- the landlord refuses to rent to you because you are a victim of domestic violence.
If you believe you may have experienced fair housing discrimination, please contact Community Legal Services at 1-800-875-8785 or via email at fairhousing@clsmf.org.
Community Legal Services
Osceola County Housing and Community Services Department cannot assist with private legal matters. However, you can refer to the FDEM Region Map & Legal Services Delivery System(PDF, 925KB) and the helpful resources below for legal help with issues such as evictions, rental issues, foreclosure, fair housing, etc.
Start by completing the Florida Online Intake form. Additional information is provided below:
HELPline Hours
Monday and Thursday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday and Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
(Un)Fair Housing Podcast
To better understand these topics including the history of housing segregation, housing discrimination, and the impact of the Fair Housing Act on minority communities in Central Florida and nationwide, visit www.UnfairHousingPodcast.PodBean.com.
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