Fair Housing for African Americans

Introduction It is important to raise awareness among community members, tenants, homeowners, landlords and other housing providers about the fair housing rights of African Americans. The Fair Housing Center also provides information about the rights of individuals in other protected classes. If you haven't had access to those materials, please contact our office for more information.

African Americans & Housing Discrimination
African-Americans experienced more than two million instances of illegal housing discrimination last year, according to estimates from the 2004 Fair Housing Trends Report released this year by the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA).
The Federal Fair Housing Act guarantees your right to live where you choose free from discrimination. It’s against the law to consider race in rental, sales, lending or homeowners insurance transactions.
You can help to make fair housing a reality by reporting discrimination. If you believe that you or somebody you know is a victim of housing discrimination on the basis of race, call the Fair Housing Center of West Michigan.
Federal and state laws prohibit discrimination in housing because of a person’s race.

Some Signs of Possible Discrimination Are:
- A Caucasian woman makes an appointment with a landlord to view an advertised single family home for rent. The landlord gives the woman information about rental rates, the application process and possible move in dates. When the potential renter and her husband, who is African American, arrive at the scheduled appointment, the landlord states that the home was just rented.
- Having different terms and conditions, such as charging an extra deposit.
- The dwelling has an “Available” sign, but you are told it is not available.
- Terms or availability change between phone contact and an in-person visit.
- When you are threatened or intimidated about moving to a neighborhood; Hearing that you won’t be safe or that the neighbors don’t want you there.
- A statement that the dwelling is not “right” for you.
- Not returning your calls.
- Your realtor or leasing agent will only show you apartments or homes in predominately African-American neighborhoods.

If you were robbed you’d report it... Don’t let anyone rob you of your civil rights!
Most victims of housing discrimination don’t report it and the unfair housing treatment continues.
Race is the most common basis for housing discrimination and should always be reported.