FAIR HOUSING
FAIR HOUSING MANUAL (2023 Edition)
Mental Health Advocacy Services is proud to present the revised 2023 edition of Fair Housing for People with Disabilities: A Guidance Manual for Emergency Shelter, Transitional Housing, and Permanent Supportive Housing Providers. This manual was created to help emergency shelter, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing providers understand their obligations under fair housing, disability rights, and other applicable laws; to implement policies to receive and respond appropriately to reasonable accommodation requests; and to advance fair housing by helping residents with disabilities obtain, maintain, and enjoy accessible housing.
This manual is available in English, Spanish, and Mandarin and can be accessed using the button below. An introductory video is also available.
Introduction to the Fair Housing Manual
公平住房手册简介
Introducción al Manual de Vivienda Justa
This manual is based on work supported by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under FHIP Grant #FEOI210020. Any opinion, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of HUD.
Disclaimer: The information in this manual is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If you have a legal question, please contact MHAS, your local fair housing council or another attorney of your choice.
FAIR HOUSING TIP OF THE MONTH CAMPAIGN, 2023-2024
Fair Housing laws prohibit discrimination in housing based on the following characteristics: race, religion, national origin, color, sex, familial status, disability, marital status,* ancestry,* sexual orientation,* gender identity,* gender expression,* genetic information,* and source of income.*
*Covered under California law, but not federal law. (For most housing, California laws also prohibit discrimination on the basis of citizenship, immigration status and primary language.)
Disclaimer: The Fair Housing Tip of the Month program is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If you have a legal question, please contact MHAS or another attorney of your choice.
The Fair Housing Tip of the Month campaign is based on work supported by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under FHIP Grant #FEOI220036. Any opinion, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of HUD.
Tip 1: Reasonable Accommodations (December 2023)
Tip 2: Source of Income Discrimination (January 2024)
Tip 3: Protections Under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) (February 2024)
Tip 4: Emotional Support Animals (April 2024, 1 of 3)
Tip 5: Multiple Emotional Support Animals (April 2024, 2 of 3)
Housing Discrimination Based on Source of Income
针对收入来源的住房歧视
Discriminación de vivienda basada en la fuente de ingresos
FAIR HOUSING CLIPS 2022-23
The Fair Housing Clips campaign is based on work supported by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under FHIP Grant #FEOI210020. Any opinion, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of HUD.
Disclaimer: The Fair Housing Clip is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If you have a legal question, please contact MHAS, your local fair housing council or another attorney of your choice.
Addressing Barriers Housing Affordability for People w/ Disabilities Who Rely on Section 8 Vouchers
为依赖第 8 节代金券的残疾人解决住房负担能力的障碍
Las barreras a la asequibilidad de la vivienda para las personas con discapacidades y la Sección 8
Fair Housing Video #2
Fair Housing Video #1
Navigating the Post-Pandemic Rental Landscape: Protections for Tenants with Disabilities
纵观后疫情时代的租赁环境：保障残疾租户
Navegando el panoraalquiler después de la pandemia: Protecciones para los inquilinos con discapacidades
Fair Housing Video #3
FAIR HOUSING DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, 2021
Fair housing information and resources related to the COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on fair housing rights of people with disabilities.
Disclaimer: The Fair Housing during the COVID-19 Pandemic campaign is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If you have a legal question, please contact MHAS or another attorney of your choice.
The Fair Housing during the COVID-19 Pandemic campaign is based on work supported by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under FHIP Grant #FEO2I00205. Any opinion, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of HUD.
Newsletter 1: Threatened Eviction of a Family Based on a Child’s Disability-Related Behavior during Remote Learning (March 2021)
Newsletter 2: Fair Housing, Domestic Violence and Sexual Harassment during COVID-19 (May 2021)
Newsletter 3: Competing Requests for Reasonable Accommodations for Multiple Tenants with Disabilities (September 2021)
FAIR HOUSING TIP OF THE MONTH CAMPAIGN, 2021-22
Fair Housing laws prohibit discrimination in housing based on the following characteristics: race, religion, national origin, color, sex, familial status, disability, marital status,* ancestry,* sexual orientation,* gender identity,* gender expression,* genetic information,* and source of income.*
*Covered under California law, but not federal law. (For most housing, California laws also prohibit discrimination on the basis of citizenship, immigration status and primary language.)
Disclaimer: The Fair Housing Tip of the Month program is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If you have a legal question, please contact MHAS or another attorney of your choice.
The Fair Housing Tip of the Month campaign is based on work supported by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under FHIP Grant #FEOI20029. Any opinion, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of HUD.
Tip 1: The Interactive Process after a Tenant with a Disability Makes a Request for Reasonable Accommodation (October 2021)
Tip 2: Fair Housing Protections for Tenants with Limited English Proficiency (November 2021)
Tip 3: Reasonable Accommodation to Provide Tenants Additional Time to Address Hoarding Issues (December 2021)
Tip 4: Reasonable Modifications to Housing for Tenants with Mental Health Disabilities (January 2022)
Tip 5: Requesting a Housing Voucher Increase as a Reasonable Accommodation for Tenants with Disabilities (February 2022)
Tip 6: Fair Housing Protections for Tenants with Disabilities Threatened with Eviction from Transitional Housing Programs (March 2022)
Bonus Tip: April is Fair Housing Month! Get Involved and Know Your Rights (April 2022)
Tip 7: Discrimination Based on Stereotypes about People with Mental Health Disabilities (April 2022)
Tip 8: Discrimination against Prospective Tenants with Section 8 Vouchers (May 2022)
Tip 9: Reasonable Accommodation to Allow an Emotional Support Animal Prescribed by a New Therapist (June 2022)
Tip 10: Reasonable Accommodation to Allow Rotating Live-In Aides for a Tenant with a Disability in Section 8 Housing (July 2022)
FAIR HOUSING TIP OF THE MONTH CAMPAIGN, 2020-21
Fair Housing laws prohibit discrimination in housing based on the following characteristics: race, religion, national origin, color, sex, familial status, disability, marital status,* ancestry,* sexual orientation,* gender identity,* gender expression,* genetic information,* and source of income.*
*Covered under California law, but not federal law. (For most housing, California laws also prohibit discrimination on the basis of citizenship, immigration status and primary language.)
Disclaimer: The Fair Housing Tip of the Month program is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If you have a legal question, please contact MHAS or another attorney of your choice.
The Fair Housing Tip of the Month campaign is based on work supported by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under FHIP Grant #FEOI1900435. Any opinion, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of HUD.
Tip 1: Providing Additional Maintenance Service as a Reasonable Accommodation for a Tenant with a Disability (October 2020)
Tip 2: Housing Discrimination against Veterans Based on Perceived Disability (November 2020)
Tip 3: My Emotional Support Animal is a Pit Bull (December 2020)
Tip 4: Protections for Housing Applicants with Past Eviction History (January 2021)
Tip 5: Master Tenants Must Provide Reasonable Accommodations and Reasonable Modifications to Subtenants with Disabilities (February 2021)
Tip 6: How Should Housing Providers Handle Competing Requests for Reasonable Accommodations? (March 2021)
Tip 7: My Emotional Support Animal is a Pit Bull, Part 2: Insurance (April 2021)
Tip 8: Requesting Repair of Apartment Habitability Problems as a Reasonable Accommodation for a Tenant with a Disability (May 2021)
Tip 9: Reasonable Accommodation for a Prospective Tenant with Disability-Related Credit Problems (June 2021)
Tip 10: Fair Housing Protections for Transgender Individuals in Homeless Shelters (July 2021)
Tip 11: Denial of Housing Applications Based on Past Criminal Record Due to Disability (August 2021)
Tip 12: Common Unlawful Denials of Reasonable Accommodation Requests (September 2021)
FAIR HOUSING TIP OF THE MONTH CAMPAIGN, 2019-20
Fair Housing laws prohibit discrimination in housing based on the following characteristics: race, religion, national origin, color, sex, familial status, disability, marital status,* ancestry,* sexual orientation,* gender identity,* gender expression,* genetic information,* and source of income.*
*Covered under California law, but not federal law. (For most housing, California laws also prohibit discrimination on the basis of citizenship, immigration status and primary language.)
Disclaimer: The Fair Housing Tip of the Month program is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If you have a legal question, please contact MHAS or another attorney of your choice.
The Fair Housing Tip of the Month campaign is based on work supported by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under FHIP Grant #FEOI19008.
Disclaimer: Any opinion, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of HUD.
Tip 1: Multiple Reasonable Accommodation Requests
Tip 2: Emotional Support Animals in Common Areas of a No-Pets Building
Tip 3: Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation to Add a Roommate to Help Pay Rent
Tip 4: Reasonable Accommodation and Landlord Demand for Waiver of Other Rights
Tip 5:Economic Accommodation for a Tenant with Mental Health Disabilities
Tip 6: Psychiatric Service Animal or Emotional Support Animal?
Tip 7: Reasonable Accommodations for People with Disabilities in Homeless Shelters
Tip 8: Reasonable Modifications for Tenants with Mental Health Disabilities
Tip 9: Requesting Reasonable Accommodation to Have an Emotional Support Animal in a Rented Room in a Private Home
Tip 10: Housing Discrimination Based on Source of Income
Tip 11: Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation to Reduce Exposure to Secondhand Smoke
Tip 12: Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation to Reduce Risk of COVID-19 Exposure
FAIR HOUSING TIP OF THE MONTH CAMPAIGN, 2018-19
Funded by a grant from the U.S. Dept. of Housing & Urban Development Fair Housing Initiatives Program (Grant #FEOI180041-01-00).
Fair Housing laws prohibit discrimination in housing based on the following characteristics: Race, religion, national origin, color, sex, marital status,* ancestry,* familial status, disability, sexual orientation,* source of income.*
(*Indicates a prohibited basis for discrimination in California, but not under federal law.)
Disclaimer: The Fair Housing Tip of the Month program is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If you have a legal question, please contact MHAS or another attorney of your choice.
Tip 1: Reasonable Accommodation - How Do I Ask for One?
Tip 2: Landlord Request for Verification of Disability
Tip 3: Emotional Support Animals and Requests for “Pet Deposits”
Tip 4: Medical Marijuana
Tip 5: Reasonable Accommodation for an Applicant with a Criminal History
Tip 6: Actions Based on Stereotypes are Discriminatory
Tip 7: Retaliation is Discrimination
Tip 8: Request for Reasonable Modification
Tip 9: Drug Addiction is a Disability if Not Related to Current Illegal Drug Use
Tip 10: Reasonable Accommodation, Section 8, and Threatened Eviction
Tip 11: Reasonable Accommodations Require an Interactive Process - Nonemergency Repairs and Notice
Tip 12: Reasonable Accommodation for More Time Before Lockout
FAIR HOUSING TIP OF THE MONTH ARCHIVE
FAIR HOUSING TIP OF THE MONTH CAMPAIGN, 2017
Funded by a grant from the U. S. Dept. of Housing & Urban Development Fair housing Initiatives Program (Grant #FEOI160050-01-01).
Tip 1: Reasonable Accommodation if You Receive a Three-Day Notice to Cure or Quit
Tip 2: Reasonable Modifications
Tip 3: Reasonable Accommodation and the Interactive Process, Example: Negative Tenant History
Tip 4: Supportive Services
Tip 5: Reasonable Accommodation and Emotional Support Animals
Tip 6: Hostile Environment and the Landlord's Duty
Tip 7: Third-Party Rent Payments
Tip 8: Reasonable Accommodation and Threatened Eviction
Tip 9: Use of Medical Marijuana in your Housing Unit
Tip 10: Reasonable Accommodation and Early Termination of a Lease
Tip 11: Hoarding
Tip 12: Smoking as a Reasonable Accommodation
Fair Housing Tip of the Month Campaign, 2014-15
Tips for housing providers. Funded by a grant from the U. S. Dept. of Housing & Urban Development Fair housing Initiatives Program (Grant #FH400G13044).
Tip 1: Reasonable Accommodations Require an Interactive Process |English| |Spanish|
Tip 2: Fair Housing Reasonable Accommodations and Confidentiality |English| |Spanish|
Tip 3: Hoarding |English| |Spanish|
Tip 4: Competing Requests for Reasonable Accommodation |English| |Spanish|
Tip 5: Rights of Hospitalized Patients to Maintain Housing |English| |Spanish|
Tip 6: Request for Reasonable Modifications |English| |Spanish|
Tip 7: Hostile Environment |English| |Spanish|
Tip 8: Emotional Support Animals |English| |Spanish|
Tip 9: Threatened Eviction Due to Tenant's In-Home Caregiver |English| |Spanish|
Tip 10: Fair Housing and the Right to Quiet Enjoyment |English| |Spanish|
Tip 11: Fair Housing Act Covers Guests with Disabilities |English| |Spanish|
Tip 12: Requests for Reasonable Accommodation upon Three-Day Notice to Cure |English| |Spanish|
Tip 13: Request for Reasonable Accommodations when Eviction is Threatened |English| |Spanish|
Tip 14: Reasonable Accommodation when a Tenant Seeks Early Lease Termination |English| |Spanish|
Previous Campaigns
-Fair Housing Tip of the Month Campaign, 2011-12
Multilingual campaign with fair housing tips in nine languages.
-Fair Housing Tip of the Month Campaign, 2009-10
Tips for mental health consumers, family members, advocates, mental health organizations and housing providers.
-Fair Housing Tip of the Month Campaign, 2006-07
Tips for emergency shelter operators and transitional housing providers.
For more information on these topics, please contact our office.
ARCHIVE OF PREVIOUS FAIR HOUSING PUBLICATIONS
Fair Housing for People with Disabilities (2007)A fair housing guidance manual for emergency shelter and transitional housing providers.
Fair Housing in Your Neighborhood (2004)A guide to understanding how fair housing laws protect people with disabilities in California (available in six languages).
English | Chinese | Korean | Russian | Spanish | Vietnamese
Reasonable Accommodation Guide for Housing Developers and Providers (2005)A guide to assist developers and providers of housing for people with disabilities in California.
IDENTIFYING SYSTEMIC BARRIERS TO HOUSING HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL HEALTH DISABILITIES IN PASADENA, FEB. 2019
Mental Health Advocacy Services, Inc. (MHAS), through funding from the State Bar of California for a Community Redevelopment Legal Assistance Project, conducted a study in 2018 aimed at identifying barriers to housing low-income individuals with mental health disabilities in Pasadena. The results of that study are available on MHAS' February 2019 report entitled "Identifying Systemic Barriers to Housing Homeless Individuals with Mental Health Disabilities in Pasadena: A Report with Recommendations for Next Steps."