HOUSING DISCRIMINATION UNDER THE FAIR HOUSING ACT

Housing discrimination is illegal in nearly all housing, including private housing, public housing, and housing that receives federal funding.

The Fair Housing Act: The Fair Housing Act protects people from discrimination when they are renting or buying a home, getting a mortgage, seeking housing assistance, or engaging in other housing-related activities. Additional protections apply to federally-assisted housing:

https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp/non_discrimination_housing_and_community_development_0

Filing a Complaint with HUD
To file an online complaint with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”), or to access the HUD complaint form in Spanish, Arabic, Cambodian, Chinese, Korean, Russian, or Vietnamese, visit the HUD FHEO page (hud.gov) or contact the Local HUD Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (“FHEO”) office in the State of Texas:
Fort Worth Regional Office of FHEO (HUD Fair Housing Hub, Fort Worth, TX)
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
801 Cherry Street, Unit #45, Suite 2500
Fort Worth, Texas 76102
(817) 978-5900 or (800) 669-9777
TTY (817) 978-5595

U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (Houston)
Phone: (713) 718-3199 Fax: (713)718-3255
TTY: (713) 718-3289

The Texas Workforce Commission (“TWC”) is the entity responsible for enforcing the Fair Housing Act in the State of Texas. You have one year after an alleged violation to file a complaint, but you should file it as soon as possible. The following information will be requested:

• Your name and address
• The name and address of the person your complaint is against (the Respondent)
• The address or other identification of the housing involved
• A short description of the alleged violation (the event that caused you to believe your rights were violated)
• The date(s) of the alleged violation

Complaints can be filed by email, fax, phone call, hand delivery or mail:
Texas Workforce Commission: Civil Rights Division, 800-628-5115
HousingComplaint@twc.state.tx.us
Download the TWC Complaint Form (www.twc.state.tx.us).

Gulf Coast Community Services Association: Fair Housing: 713-393-4700

Greater Houston Fair Housing Center: 713-641-3247

Office of the Texas Attorney General: https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/consumer-protection

Lone Star Legal Aid: Must meet low-income requirements 713- 652-0077

University of Houston Law Center: Civil Justice Clinic 713-743-2094

Thurgood Marshall School of Law Legal Clinics (TSU): 713-313-7275

The South Texas College of Law Houston Clinical Programs and The Randall O. Sorrels Legal Clinics: If you would like to apply for Legal Assistance, please contact them directly by calling (713) 646-2990.

Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program: www.makejusticehappen.org 713-228-0735

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB): http://www.consumerfinance.gov
Consumer Help: 855-411-CFPB (2372) TTY/TDD: 855-729-CFPB (2372)
To file an Online complaint: www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint

Protecting Your Identity: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/topics/identity-theft

Are you a Victim of Identity Theft or Fraud?
IdentityTheft.gov is the federal government’s one-stop resource for identity theft victims. The site provides streamlined checklists and sample letters to guide you through the recovery process. https://www.identitytheft.gov/

Texas Consumer Complaint Center: http://www.texasccc.com 713-743-2168

Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program: Legal Services Intake Line 713-228-0732

Are you a Victim of Fraud?
If you have become or are likely to become a victim of fraud, you may add a fraud alert by calling the Fraud Victim Assistance Department toll-free at 800-680-7289.

IdentityTheft.gov is the federal government’s one-stop resource for identity theft victims. The
site provides streamlined checklists and sample letters to guide you through the recovery process.
https://www.identitytheft.gov/

CFPB: “What protections do I have against credit discrimination?”: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/fair-lending/

The Houston Bar Association LEGAL Resource Guide: https://hlrs.org/wp-content/uploads/Legal-Resources-2023.pdf

Houston Bar Association: Consumer Law Handbook: https://texaslawhelp.org/sites/default/files/2022-09/2019-20-consumer-law-handbook.pdf

TexasLawHelp.org is dedicated to providing free and reliable legal information to Texans. https://texaslawhelp.org/

MissingMoney.com is a database of governmental unclaimed property records. Conduct a free multi-state search by going directly to https://www.missingmoney.com    You should search in every state where you have lived.