In April, AACSC celebrated Fair Housing Month by welcoming Christina Prado, Outreach Coordinator at the Fair Housing Foundation, for an in-depth presentation on housing rights, services, and compliance requirements for housing providers.

The Fair Housing Foundation (FHF), founded in 1964, has been at the forefront of eliminating housing discrimination and ensuring equal housing opportunities across Los Angeles and Orange Counties. From landlord-tenant counseling to financial empowerment programs, the nonprofit offers critical resources at no cost making it a valuable partner for both residents and housing providers.

Who the Fair Housing Foundation Serves

  • Coverage: 28 cities across LA and Orange Counties, including Long Beach, Carson, Compton, Gardena, Hawthorne, and South Gate.
  • Services: Landlord and tenant counseling, discrimination investigations, mediation, education workshops, and financial literacy coaching.
  • Accessibility: Free programs offered in multiple languages to ensure broad community support.

Protected Classes Under Fair Housing Law

Christina highlighted the protected classes housing providers must be aware of:

  • Federal Protections: Race, Color, Religion, Sex, Disability, Familial Status, National Origin
  • California Protections (Expanded): Ancestry, Source of Income (e.g., housing vouchers), Immigration Status, Gender Identity, Sexual Orientation, Marital Status, Military/Veteran Status, Age, Primary Language, Genetic Information, and more.

Pull Quote: “Treat all applicants fairly, use written screening criteria, and ensure denials are based only on legitimate, documented reasons.”

Common Fair Housing Violations

Examples of illegal practices include:

  • Steering families with children toward specific units or floors.
  • Refusing applicants based on source of income (e.g., Section 8) or immigration status.
  • Enforcing discriminatory occupancy standards.

Christina stressed the importance of clear, consistent, written criteria to protect both housing providers and tenants.

Hot Topics Housing Providers Must Know

  • Source of Income Protections: Only evaluate the tenant’s portion of rent when screening subsidized applicants.
  • Emotional Support Animals (ESAs): ESAs are not pets; no pet fees or breed restrictions are allowed. Requests must be honored unless the animal poses a direct threat or causes substantial damage.
  • Entry for Repairs: Landlords must provide 24-hour written notice before entering a unit for any repairs, including pest control.
  • Recent Law Updates: Stay informed on security deposit laws and rental application processing requirements.

Resources for Housing Providers

The Fair Housing Foundation provides direct support to property owners and managers, including:

  • Counseling: Guidance on notices, evictions, habitability, and rent increases.
  • Mediation: Neutral services to resolve disputes without litigation.
  • Education: Free workshops for landlords and tenants.
  • Financial Empowerment: Credit and budgeting programs for tenants that indirectly support stable tenancy.

Quick Fair Housing Compliance Tips

✅ Provide consistent written screening criteria for all applicants
✅ Do not refuse applicants based on vouchers or source of income
✅ Treat ESAs and service animals according to federal law
✅ Always give 24-hour written notice before entering units
✅ Stay current with state and local updates

Share this article
The link has been copied!