Fair Housing

Economic Action Maryland’s Fair Housing program works to root out discrimination in housing and ensure everyone has the right to fair housing.

To do this…

  • we educate individuals and organizations about housing rights.
  • we take fair housing complaints and work to resolve them.
  • we advocate on behalf of individuals and communities facing current and historic discrimination.
  • we educate housing providers about their fair housing responsibilities.

Fight Discrimination!

Experiencing Discrimination in Housing?

Call our Fair Housing Intake Line: 410-989-3811.

Disability and Housing

Under the federal Fair Housing Act, a disability is any physical, mental, or emotional impairment that impacts you and your full use and enjoyment of your home. People with disabilities have the right to reasonable accommodations and modifications.

An accommodation is a change in policy that a housing provider makes to ensure that a person with a disability can fully use and enjoy their home. Common examples include emotional support and service animals, reserved parking spaces, or moving to a more accessible unit.

Modifications are physical changes that are made to a housing unit to allow a person with disabilities to fully use and enjoy the home and facilities. These include things like installing grab bars in the bathroom or a ramp to the door.

We can help you request an accommodation or modification, or assist you if your request has been denied.

HOUSING VOUCHERS

Beginning October 1, 2020, households that pay for their housing using public assistance, like Housing Choice Vouchers, or any other legal income, are protected from housing discrimination. That means a landlord or property manager can no longer refuse to accept a voucher for a unit that would otherwise be affordable – and the law protects tenants from many other forms of discrimination.

Have you faced discrimination because you have a voucher or another source of income?

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Outreach and Education

The Fair Housing program offers Know Your Rights presentations for community members and service providers. We provide trainings on a variety of topics ranging from the basics of Fair Housing laws to in depth discussions of specific laws and protections. Our trainings help community members and service providers navigate and combat discrimination in the home buying and rental processes. Learn more about our trainings and register today!

Want to schedule a free know your rights training for your team or community group?

Compliance Trainings for Housing Providers

The Fair Housing program regularly hosts free, virtual Fair Housing Compliance trainings for housing providers. Our trainings cover federal, state, and local fair housing laws as well as compliance with the HOME Act. We also provide a training on housing providers’ legal responsibilities to provide accommodations and modifications for disabled tenants. To see our full list of upcoming trainings and to register, please visit our calendar.

Join our mailing list to hear about upcoming free fair housing compliance trainings.

We are also able to provide fee-based fair housing compliance training to housing providers who are required to receive training as part of an agreement with HUD or MCCR.

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