Successful Mediation of Source of Income (Section 8) Discrimination Case with the California Civil Rights Department
February 26, 2025— La Habra, California — The Fair Housing Foundation (FHF) has successfully settled a case involving both monetary damages and non-monetary relief. The property management company involved has agreed to undergo fair housing training, display the Equal Housing Opportunity logo on their website, include a statement affirming compliance with California fair housing laws, and implement an anti-discrimination policy specifically addressing Source of Income (SOI) protections for Section 8 participants.
The case involved a property management company that denied accepting a Section 8 voucher application unless the prospective tenant could provide a document detailing the breakdown of what the Housing Authority would cover and the amount of rent the tenant would pay.
The initial complaint against the property management came from a prospective tenant, a Section 8 voucher holder, who inquired about an apartment for rent, visited the property, and even viewed the apartment. When the prospective tenant expressed interest in moving forward with the application and attempted to submit the completed application to the manager, she was told it could not be accepted unless she provided a document detailing the breakdown of the Housing Authority’s portion and the tenant’s rent portion. The prospective tenant contacted her Housing Authority caseworker, who explained that in order to determine the prospective tenant’s portion of the rent, they require the submission of a Request for Tenancy Approval (RTA) first. Additionally, the caseworker provided the prospective tenant with a copy of their Payment Standards for reference. Despite explaining this information to the manager, the prospective tenant’s application was still refused unless she provided that breakdown.
FHF then conducted an investigation, which confirmed that the property management was denying acceptance of a prospective tenant’s application unless they provided a letter from the Housing Authority verifying the portion of the rent to be paid by the prospective tenant and the Housing Authority.
If you believe you may have experienced housing discrimination, please contact FHF at (800) 446-FAIR (3247), Deaf or Hard of Hearing TTY (800) 855-7100, or by email at [email protected].
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About Fair Housing Foundation:
The Fair Housing Foundation is a non-profit organization established in 1964 and is dedicated to eliminating discrimination in housing and promoting equal access to housing choices for everyone. FHF engages in activities including outreach and education, testing and investigation, and counteracting and eliminating discriminatory housing practices in both Los Angeles and Orange Counties. The Fair Housing Foundation is a HUD-Certified Housing Counseling Agency and also offers Rental Counseling. Please contact Fair Housing Foundation at 1-800-446-3247 (TTY: 1-800 855-7100) for more information.