What Does the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 Provide?
Racial/Ethnic Categories
The Fair Housing Act declares that it is national policy to provide fair
1. White (Non Hispanic)—A person having origins in any of the
housing throughout the United States and prohibits eight specific
original peoples of Europe, North Africa, or the Middle East.
kinds of discriminatory acts regarding housing if the discrimination is
2. Black (Non Hispanic)—A person having origins in any of the
based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or
black racial groups of Africa.
national origin.
3. Hispanic—A person of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central or
1. Refusal to sell or rent or otherwise deal with a person.
South American or other Spanish Culture or origin, regardless of
2. Discriminating in the conditions or terms of sale, rental, or occu-
race.
pancy.
4. American Indian or Alaskan Native—A person having origins in
3. Falsely denying housing is available.
any of the original peoples of North America, and who maintains,
cultural identification through tribal affiliation or community recog-
4. “Blockbusting”—causing person(s) to sell or rent by telling them
nition.
that members of a minority group are moving into the area.
5. Asian or Pacific Islander—A person having origins in any of the
6. Discrimination in financing housing by a bank, savings and loan
original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, the Indian
association, or other business.
Subcontinent, or the Pacific Islands. This area includes, for
example, China, Japan, Korea, the Philippine Islands, and Sa-
7. Denial of membership or participation in brokerage, multiple
moa.
listing, or other real estate services.
You can obtain assistance (a) in learning about the Fair Housing Act,
8. Interference, coercion, threats or intimidation to keep a person
or (b) in filing a complaint at the HUD Regional Offices listed below:
from obtaining the full benefits of the Federal Fair Housing Law
and/or filing a complaint.
For Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire,
What Does the Law Exempt?
Rhode Island, and Vermont:
The first three acts listed above do not apply (1) to any single family
NEW ENGLAND OFFICE (Marcella_Brown@hud.gov)
house where the owner in certain circumstances does not seek to
Fair Housing Enforcement Center
rent or sell it through the use of a broker or through discriminatory
advertising, nor (2) to units in houses for two-to-four families if the
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
owner lives in one of the units.
Thomas P. O’Neill, Jr. Federal Building
10 Causeway Street, Room 321
What Can You Do About Violations of the Law?
Boston, MA 02222-1092
Remember, the Fair Housing Act applies to discrimination based on
Telephone (617) 994-8300 or 1-800-827-5005
race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.
Fax (617) 565-7313 • TTY (617) 565-5453
If you believe you have been or are about to be, discriminated against
or otherwise harmed by the kinds of discriminatory acts which are
For New Jersey and New York
prohibited by law, you have a right, within 1 year after the discrimi-
nation occurred to:
New York/New Jersey Office (Stanley_Seidenfeld@hud.gov)
1. Complain to the Secretary of HUD by filing this form by mail or
Fair Housing Enforcement Center
in person. HUD will investigate. If it finds the complaint is covered
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
by the law and is justified, it will try to end the discrimination by
26 Federal Plaza, Room 3532
conciliation. If conciliation fails, other steps will be taken to
New York, NY 10278-0068
enforce the law. In cases where State or local laws give the same
rights as the Federal Fair Housing Law, HUD must first ask the
Telephone (212) 264-1290 or 1-800-496-4294
State or local agency to try to resolve the problem.
Fax (212) 264-9829 • TTY (212) 264-0927
2. Go directly to Court even if you have not filed a complaint with
For Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania,
the Secretary. The Court may sometimes be able to give quicker,
more effective, relief than conciliation can provide and may also,
Virginia, and West Virginia
in certain cases, appoint an attorney for you (without cost).
MID-ATLANTIC OFFICE (Wanda_Nieves@hud.gov)
You Should Also Report All Information about violations of the
Fair Housing Enforcement Center
Fair Housing Act to HUD even though you don't intend to complain
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
or go to court yourself.
The Wanamaker Building
Additional Details. If you wish to explain in detail in an attach-
100 Penn Square East
ment what happened, you should consider the following:
Philadelphia, PA 19107-9344
Telephone (215) 656-0662 or 1-888-799-2085
1. If you fee that others were treated differently from you, please
explain the facts and circumstances.
Fax (215) 656-3419 • TTY (215) 656-3450
2. If there were witnesses or others who know what happened,
give their names, addresses, and telephone numbers.
3. If you have made this complaint to other government agencies
or to the courts, state when and where and explain what
happened.
form HUD-903 (7/2001)
Previous editions are obsolete
Page 2 of 3
ref Handbook 8024.1