Press Release El Centro

Fair Housing Foundation Expands to El Centro

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:

Christina Prado

1-800-446-3247 ext. 1104

Long Beach, CA, August 27, 2026 — The Fair Housing Foundation is pleased to announce that the City of El Centro has joined its service area. FHF looks forward to working alongside the El Centro community to advance fair housing, share educational resources, and help residents understand and access housing opportunities free from discrimination.

Through this partnership, FHF’s services and resources will be available to El Centro residents at no cost. Residents, landlords, tenants, schools, city staff, property owners, nonprofit organizations, and other community partners are encouraged to contact FHF for fair housing education, guidance, and support.

FHF extends its appreciation to the City of El Centro for its commitment to fair housing and for helping connect the community with reliable, quality services from the FHF team.

El Centro residents and community members seeking more information may call 800-446-FAIR (3247), email [email protected], or visit fhfca.org.

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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.

Elementor #18992

Fair Housing Foundation Welcomes Hesperia to Service Area

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:

Christina Prado

1-800-446-3247 ext. 1104

[email protected]

Long Beach, CA, May 29, 2026: Welcome, City of Hesperia! The Fair Housing Foundation is proud to welcome Hesperia into our service area. We look forward to partnering with the community to promote fair housing, provide education and resources, and support residents in accessing housing opportunities free from discrimination. This new partnership comes at no cost to residents to access the resources and services that FHF has to offer.

We thank the city of Hesperia for its commitment to fair housing and for ensuring that residents receive quality services provided by the FHF team. For all Hesperia residents, including landlords, tenants, schools, city staff, property owners, non-profits, etc., connect with FHF by calling 800-446-FAIR (3247), by email at [email protected] or visit the website at fhfca.org.

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About Fair Housing Foundation

Press Release TAV

Fair Housing Foundation Welcomes Town of Apple Valley to Service Area

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:

Christina Prado

1-800-446-3247 ext. 1104

[email protected]

Long Beach, CA, March 19, 2026: The Town of Apple Valley is the newest city to join the Fair Housing Foundation service area. Town of Apple Valley residents can now benefit from services which include investigating housing discrimination complaints, a hotline with counselors ready to answer questions on landlord/ tenant rights and responsibilities, attend educational workshops, participate in the Financial Empowerment Program, and much more at no cost to residents.

To welcome the city, Executive Director, Stella Vanporppal said, “we are excited to partner with the Town of Apple Valley in advancing our mission to uphold fair housing protections and build toward inclusive communities with safe and accessible homes for all.”

Fair Housing Foundation commends the Town of Apple Valley for its commitment to fair housing and ensuring that residents receive quality services provided by the FHF team. Connect with FHF by calling 800-446-FAIR (3247), by email at [email protected] or visit the website at fhfca.org. Fair Housing Foundation is the designated fair housing service provider for cities across Los Angeles and Orange County and looks forward to building this new partnership with the Town of Apple Valley and its residents for many years to come.

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About Fair Housing Foundation

Immigration Status Protections Under California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA)

Due to the current climate, the Fair Housing Foundation (FHF) along with other fair housing organizations have seen an increase in complaints alleging that landlords are using tactics to intimidate, harass, and instill fear in residents. Some complaints involve landlords threatening to call Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) if tenants do not move out in an attempt to avoid the legal eviction process.

This behavior persists even though under California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), it is unlawful for housing providers to discriminate against tenants or applicants based on their immigration status.

In 2018, California amended FEHA (Government Code § 12955) to explicitly include immigration status as a protected characteristic in housing. This means that landlords, property managers, and housing providers may not:

Deny housing based on a person’s immigration status.
Harass or evict a tenant because of their actual or perceived immigration status.
Retaliate against someone for asserting their fair housing rights related to immigration status.
Request documentation that is not required of all applicants (e.g., demanding a Social Security Number when other acceptable forms of identification or income verification are available).

While housing providers may verify income or identity, they must do so consistently for all applicants and may not single anyone out based on immigration status or national origin.

These protections are especially critical in communities with mixed-status households or vulnerable immigrant populations. Tenants who believe they have experienced discrimination based on their immigration status, please contact FHF at (800) 446-FAIR (3247), TTY (800) 855-7100 for Deaf or Hard of Hearing, or by email at [email protected].

Press Release: Hard Floor Reasonable Mod 5.21.25

Successful Mediation of Reasonable Modification Request in Collaboration with the California Civil Rights Department (CRD)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:

Christina Prado

1-800-446-3247 ext. 1104

[email protected]

Long Beach, CA, May 21, 2025: In March 2024, the Fair Housing Foundation (FHF) was contacted by complainant Jane Doe (Ms. Doe) regarding a reasonable modification request. Ms. Doe sought to replace the carpeting in her two-bedroom apartment with hard flooring, as the carpet fibers were aggravating her son’s physical disability symptoms.

The Respondent, Avanath Capital Management, LLC., initially approved the request in March 2024 and provided a projected completion date of mid-May 2024. The property is a HUD recipient and since they receive federal funding, they are responsible for the cost of modifications that are done to the property. However, communication soon ceased, and the landlord stopped responding to both FHF and Ms. Doe. Despite repeated follow-ups, the landlord failed to act, citing staff turnover and making vague promises to “look into it.”

In October 2024, FHF filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department (CRD) on behalf of Ms. Doe. The case proceeded to mediation, where a settlement was successfully reached. Ms. Doe was awarded monetary relief in compensatory damages. Additionally, the landlord agreed to:

• Complete the flooring modification at their expense,

• Undergo fair housing training, and

• Implement a formal policy for processing reasonable accommodation and/or modification requests.

Tenants and prospective applicants with disabilities have the right to request reasonable accommodations or modifications. Landlords are required to engage in an interactive process regarding such requests. If you need assistance with a reasonable accommodation or modification request, or believe you may have experienced housing discrimination, please contact FHF at (800) 446-FAIR (3247), TTY (800) 855-7100 for Deaf or Hard of Hearing, or by email at [email protected].

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About Fair Housing Foundation:

PRESS RELEASE: Section 8

Successful Mediation of Source of Income (Section 8) Discrimination Case with the California Civil Rights Department

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:

Christina Prado

1-800-446-3247 ext. 1104

[email protected]

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:

Press Release: Immigration Status Protected

Successful Mediation of Immigration Status Discrimination Case via CRD

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:

Christina Prado

1-800-446-3247 ext. 1104

[email protected]

February 19, 2025— Westminster, California— The Fair Housing Foundation (FHF) has reached a successful settlement that includes both monetary damages and non-monetary relief. The property owner involved agreed to develop and implement a fair housing policy prohibiting discrimination based on immigration status at all residential rental properties they own and operate, including the subject property. Additionally, the property owner underwent fair housing training. The property owner will now rent to any person, regardless of their immigration status.

The case involved a property owner who denied individuals tenancy based on their immigration status, citing their work with the Department of Defense as the reason for not renting to anyone without legal status. The owner also questioned prospective tenants about their immigration status when they inquired about availability.

The initial complaint against the property owner came from an individual who was inquiring about a property available for rent. The home seeker asked the property owner if the property was still available and whether she could schedule a tour to view it. The property owner then asked the home seeker if she had a green card, stating that she only rented to individuals with legal status. The home seeker is neither a U.S. Citizen nor a Lawful Permanent Resident.

FHF conducted an investigation, which confirmed that the property owner was denying tenancy to prospective applicants who were not U.S. Citizens or Lawful Permanent Residents.

If you believe you may have experienced housing discrimination, please contact FHF offices 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:

CFS Donation

California Foundation for Stronger Communities Makes Generous Donation to FHF

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:

Christina Prado

1-800-446-3247 ext. 1104

[email protected]

Long Beach, CA, October 3, 2024: Fair Housing Foundation has received a generous donation from California Foundation for Stronger Communities (“CFSC”) of $30,000 to continue the FHF mission statement of dedication to eliminating discrimination in housing and promoting equal access to housing choices for everyone.

The CFSC donation is made possible by the Board of Directors of the California Foundation for Stronger Communities, a California non-profit public benefit corporation, and acts as the Board of Directors for the California Municipal Finance Authority (“CMFA”). Their goal is to “strengthen local communities by assisting with the financing of economic development and charitable activities throughout the State of California.” The donation received by Fair Housing Foundation is a direct result of the services CMFA provides to local governments, non-profits and businesses. To learn more about CMFA, visit their website at www.cmfa-ca.com.

Thanks to this generous donation, FHF programs and facilities will be strengthened to meet the ever-growing demand of the community to continue providing quality fair housing services that directly impact neighborhoods and families.

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About Fair Housing Foundation:

Fair Housing Foundation

Fair Housing Foundation Settles Source of Income Discrimination Complaint

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:

Christina Prado

1-800-446-3247 ext. 1104

[email protected]

September 5, 2024, Long Beach, California — The Fair Housing Foundation (FHF) has reached a successful settlement that includes both monetary damages and non-monetary relief thanks to the assistance of attorney Michelle Uzeta from the Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund. The management company involved agreed to develop and implement a fair housing policy prohibiting discrimination based on source of income at all residential rental properties it owns and operates, including the subject properties. Additionally, agents and employees of the seven properties are required to attend fair housing training. The company must also include a statement on their website, either “Section 8 is accepted” or “We do not discriminate based on source of income.”

The initial complaint against this property management company came from an individual attempting to utilize her Section 8 voucher at one of the subject properties. The Section 8 home seeker tried to apply for a two-bedroom apartment for herself and her two minor children. However, when she applied, the manager informed her that it would take a month to process the application because the Request for Tenancy Approval (RTA) Packet needed to be filled out by the corporate office. She was also told that the corporate office does not prioritize Section 8 applications. Furthermore, the Section 8 home seeker received an email from the corporate office suggesting that she would be better off pursuing properties/units that are already registered with Section 8.

FHF then conducted an investigation, which confirmed that the apartment management was discouraging Section 8 applicants by stating that while they accepted Section 8, the process would take several months.

Even when a complainant does not wish to pursue litigation, FHF can still proceed with the complaint. We would like to thank Ms. Uzeta for all her hard work in settling this case.

If you believe you may have experienced housing discrimination, please contact FHF offices 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:

Rosemead Joins Fair Housing Foundation Service Area

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:

Christina Prado

1-800-446-3247 ext. 1104

[email protected]

Long Beach, CA, August 1, 2024: Fair Housing Foundation welcomes the city of Rosemead to the FHF service area making Rosemead the 27^th city to receive fair housing services. FHF has been providing fair housing services to the Orange County and Los Angeles County areas since 1964 and continues to grow and evolve with the growing needs of the community.

Rosemead residents are now able to benefit from resources and services including fair housing violation investigations, landlord and tenant counseling on rights and responsibilities, rental counseling services for improving financial health, educational workshops and a lot more. All services, resources and events are free to all residents with properties within the FHF service area. Thank you to the city of Rosemead for entrusting your city to Fair Housing Foundation.

Rosemead will collaborate with FHF by promoting fair housing services. The city will host free landlord/ tenant walk-in clinics, provide FHF with resource tables at key city locations and notify residents of upcoming fair housing services and events. Together, FHF and Rosemead will work towards eliminating discrimination in housing and promoting equal access to housing choices for everyone.

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About Fair Housing Foundation