Equal and free access to residential housing is a fundamental right that enables members of the protected classes to pursue personal, education, employment and other goals. Because housing choice is so critical to personal development, fair housing is a goal that government, public officials and private citizens must embrace if equality of opportunity is to become a reality.

Entitlement communities receive CDBG to:

• Examine and attempt to alleviate housing discrimination within their jurisdiction;
• Promote fair housing choice for all persons to reside in any given housing development;
• Promote housing that is accessible to and usable by persons with disabilities; and
• Comply with the non-discrimination requirements of the Fair Housing Act.

Examples of discrimination include:

• Refusing to rent or sell or negotiate for housing
• Making housing unavailable
• Setting different terms, conditions, or privileges for sale or rental
• Falsely deny that housing is available for inspection, sale or rental
• Refusing to allow a disabled person to make reasonable accommodations to his/her dwelling
• Threatening or interfering with anyone making a fair housing complaint
• Refusing to provide municipal services, property insurance or hazard insurance for dwellings, or providing such services or insurance differently

What to do if you believe you have experienced housing discrimination:

Contact the Montgomery County, Maryland Office of Human Rights:

21 Maryland Avenue, Suite 330
Rockville, Maryland 20850
240-777-8450
TTY 240-777-8480

Contact the Housing and Urban Development Regional Office for Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia:

Philadelphia Regional Office of FHEO
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
The Wanamaker Building
100 Penn Square East, 12th Floor
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107-3380
215-861-7646 / 888-799-2085
TTY 215-656-3450