Prepared by: Community Development Department,
City Of Decatur, Alabama.For more information on Fair Housing
or on how to file a complaint, contact theFair Housing Center of Northern Alabama,
Birmingham, AL, at 866-740-1040or www.fhcna.com.
Sources: www.justice.gov/crt/housing/housing_coverage.php
and www.HUD.gov
• Whathappened?
• Whowasinvolved?
• Wheredidithappen?
• Whendidithappen?
• Yournameandaddress
• Thenameandaddressofthepersonyour
complaintisagainst(therespondent)
• Theaddressorotheridentificationofthe
housing involved
• Ashortdescriptionoftheallegedviolation
(theeventthatcausedyoutobelieveyour
rights were violated)
• Thedate(s)oftheallegedviolation
If you think your housing rights were violated, reflect and document:
What to Tell HUD:
100% of units are occupied by those 62 or older
OR ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS APPLY
80% or more of units are occupied by at least
one person who is 55 or older
AND the community adheres to a policy that
demonstrates intent to house older persons
AND the community complies with rules
established by the Department of Housing and
Urban Development for verification of
occupancy.
Unless a building or community qualifies as
designated housing for older persons, a housing
provider may not discriminate based on familial
status.
Familial Status:What you should know
• Pregnantwomen
• Fosterchildren
• Adoptedchildren
• Grandparentsraisingtheirgrandchildren
• Childrenwhosplittimebetweenparents’
homes and only live there part-time
• Thedesigneeoftheparent/legalcustodian,
withtheparent’sorcustodian’swritten
permission
• Anyonesecuringlegalcustodyofachild
under 18
The only exemption to familial status protection is designated housing for older persons as defined as:
“Familial status” is defined as any household with one or more children under 18, including:
It is illegal to treat families with children under the age
of 18 differently in housing transactions. This includes
a prohibition on advertising “no children” in ads or to
maintain a practice of turning away or treating families
with children differently.
RESTRICTIVE RULES OR POLICIES AIMED AT FAMILY
• Denying children access to recreational or other
amenities within the complex
• Requiringadultsupervisionofchildrenwhenoutside
their apartment
REFUSAL TO RENT
• Notallowingafamilytorentaunitornotingthataunit
is unavailable because of its location within the
complex. For example, a family cannot be denied a
unit because it is in a certain section or on a particular
floor of the complex.
OCCUPANCY RESTRICTIONS
• Restrictingthenumberofpersonsperbedroom(such
as one person) can be viewed as potentially unfair for
families with children.
HOUSING PROVIDERS MUST GIVE FAMILIES WITH
CHILDREN RIGHTS EQUAL TO OTHERS TO LIVE IN
THEIR HOUSING AND THE PROVIDERS MUST NOT
PROVIDE LESS FAVORABLE TREATMENT TO FAMILIES.
What are the ways that a family might be treated unfairly?
