Report Discrimination
If you have been a victim of housing discrimination, report it today! If you are looking through rental advertisements and see wording that sounds discriminatory, please share it with us via link, screenshot, or both via our Facebook page and we will investigate.
What is fair housing? Who is protected? What can I do to help? Find answers here!
(or read the full text of fair housing laws)
Who is Protected?
Protected classes at the federal level:
Race
Color
Religion
Sex
Familial Status
National Origin
Disability
Protected classes in New York State and Erie County include all of the above plus:
Military Status
Sexual Orientation
Age
Creed
Marital Status
Gender Identity
Source of Income
Immigration and Citizenship Status
What does discrimination look like?
Discrimination isn’t always obvious. Any of these actions could be discrimination if they happen because of a person’s membership in one of the groups above:
Refusal: refusing to rent to someone
Misrepresentation: lying about whether a property is rented or not
Inconsistent terms: different rules for different tenants
Advertisement: showing preference for or against a certain group in ads
Illegal inquiries: asking questions about protected classes
Steering: convincing someone to live in a certain area because of stereotypes or bias
Coercion: coercion, intimidation, threats, harassment
Refusing to make reasonable accommodations or modifications for people with disabilities.