Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, better known as the Fair Housing Act (FHA), made it unlawful to discriminate in any aspect relating to the sale, rental or financing of housing or in the provisions of brokerage services or facilities in connection with the sale or rental of a dwelling because of:
- RACE
- COLOR
- RELIGION
- SEX
- DISABILITY
- NATIONAL ORIGIN
- FAMILIAL STATUS (WHERE THERE ARE CHILDREN UNDER 18 AND/OR A PREGNANT WOMAN
The Fair Housing Amendments of 1988 was enacted to strengthen the administrative enforcement provisions of Title VIII and it added prohibitions against discrimination in housing on the basis of disability and familial status. It also provides for the award of monetary damages where discriminatory housing practices are found. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is the federal agency with primary responsibility for enforcing the Fair Housing Act. Since the passage of the FHA, there have been great improvements in providing equal housing opportunity. However, discrimination still exists, making the FHA an extremely important tool in fighting against housing discrimination.
The Lee County Office of Equal Opportunity investigates housing discrimination for all of Lee County including Cape Coral. They are the local equivalent to the Florida Commission on Human Relations and the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
If you feel you have been discriminated against, please contact Lee County Office of Equal Opportunity, 2115 Second Street, 4th Floor, Fort Myers, Florida 23-533-2267.
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