Enforcement

Do you think that you’ve been discriminated against while renting or buying a home? The Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center may be able to help. LaFHAC conducts investigations into fair housing violations. When necessary, our staff attorneys help clients through the process of filing a complaint with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, or filing a lawsuit in state or federal court. Help is free and confidential. We are able to take complaints from everywhere in Louisiana.

The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, religion, sex (which can include sexual orientation or gender identity), national origin, disability, or family status (having children or the number of children you have). In Orleans Parish there are additional protections from discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identification, marital status, age and creed. Learn more about the Fair Housing Act here.

The Fair Housing Act also requires that housing providers make reasonable accommodations to people with disabilities so they can equally use and enjoy the housing. If you have a disability, and think you might need a reasonable modification or accommodation, click here to learn more.

Additionally, the Fair Housing Act protects you against discrimination in mortgage lending and mortgage modification scams. Learn more about our Report Foul Play in Lending Campaign here and report suspicious practices for investigation and enforcement.

Housing discrimination can happen in many ways. Examples of housing discrimination include:

Being denied a home to rent or purchase because of your race.
Having to pay extra fees because you have children.
Being refused an accommodation for a disability.
Overhearing a property-managers making rude remarks about people from different countries.
Being sexually harassed by a maintenance worker.

Housing discrimination is illegal. If you feel you have been discriminated against while trying to rent or buy a home based on your race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or because you have children, contact the Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center (LaFHAC) at 877-445-2100 or fill out the form below for more information about potentially filing a complaint.

We need volunteers to help with our civil rights work!

Learn how YOU CAN HELP us conduct our investigations.

Read about becoming a tester here.