jala legal terms button jala links button jala faq button jala contact us button contribute to the jacksonville area legal aid jala contribute button
jala about button jala services button jala fundraising work button jala calender of events button jala training button jala panphlets button jala pro bono button
jala jala jala jala jala jala jala jala jala jala jala jala

Fair Housing Advocacy Center

What is the Fair Housing Advocacy Center?

Pursuant to a grant provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Fair Housing Advocacy Center (FHAC) was established to enforce the fair housing laws. It currently serves Duval, Clay, Nassau, St. Johns, Baker and Bradford counties. There are no income requirements for FHAC clients.  FHAC is committed to zealously advocate on behalf of victims of housing discrimination and has a three-fold approach to accomplish this mission:

  1. Education: FHAC educates housing consumers to recognize and report housing discrimination.  If your group would like to receive a fair housing presentation, please call the hotline.
  2. Investigation: FHAC conducts ongoing research and monitoring efforts to determine the nature and extent of housing discrimination being practiced in our community.*
  3. Enforcement: FHAC may negotiate a settlement, represent a client in state or federal court, help file a case with a government agency, and/or advocate for the client throughout the process.

*If you are interested in assisting FHAC with these efforts, please call our hotline for more information or click on the downloadable flyers at the bottom of the page.

What does the law say?

State and Federal Fair Housing laws prohibit discrimination in housing based on:

  • Race
  • Color
  • National Origin
  • Familial Status
  • Disability
  • Sex
  • Religion

Fair Housing laws forbid discrimination in most housing related transactions, including but not limited to:

  • Refusal to rent, sell or negotiate with a person who falls in one of the above protected classes.
  • Discrimination in the terms or conditions of a sale, rental, or in services or facilities.
  • Falsely denying housing availability.
  • Advertising in a discriminatory way.
  • Discrimination in financing, broker's services, or homeowner's insurance.
  • Refusal to make a reasonable accommodation or modification for a mentally or physically disabled person.

If you feel you have been a victim of discrimination in housing and your rights have been violated, call...

Fair Housing Advocacy Center:
356-8371 ext. 318

Address:
Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, Inc.
126 West Adams Street
Jacksonville, FL 32202-3849

When should I call FHAC?

Housing discrimination can be subtle or it can be quite obvious.  Here are some helpful examples of discriminatory behavior which FHAC could offer assistance:

Race, Color or National Origin Discrimination:

  • Your phone messages are not returned by the landlord or housing provider.
  • Your housing community has a “black side” and a “white side.”
  • You are told the house is rented; however you notice the house is still being advertised as available.
  • You are told the security deposit is $100.00 on the phone; yet you are told the deposit is $300.00 when you meet the owner or agent face to face.
  • You are white, and you are told that you cannot have visitors of a different race in your home.

Disability discrimination:

  • You request a reasonable accommodation for your disability and your housing provider refuses to comply.
  • You request to build a ramp, or make some other modifications for your disability at your own expense, and your landlord refuses.
  • You are evicted when the housing provider learns of your disability.

Sex discrimination:

  • You are sexually harassed by a member of the housing providers staff.
  • Your landlord requests that instead of paying rent, you provide sexual favors.

Familial status:

  • You are told “no kids.”
  • You are only told about units in the "kids' area” of a complex or only shown units on the first floor when other units are available.
  • You are told that your children do not have access to facilities, such as the swimming pool or playground.

Religion:

  • Because of your religion, you are subjected to an increased security deposit.
  • You are told only about areas of town with a synagogue or mosque.
  • The rental advertisement states that the rental is for "christians only."

If you would like more general information regarding your Fair Housing Rights, please click on any of the downloadable brochures in English and Spanish.

Fair Housing Disabled Persons and Advocates Pamphlet.pdf

Fair Housing Disabled Persons and Advocates Spanish Pamphlet.pdf

Fair Housing Financing Your Home Pamphlet.pdf

Fair Housing Financing Your Home Spanish Pamphlet.pdf

Fair Housing General Information Pamphlet.pdf

Fair Housing General Information Pamphlet Spanish.pdf

Fair Housing Insuring Your Home Pamphlet.pdf

Fair Housing Insuring Your Home Spanish Pamphlet.pdf

Fair Housing Sales Discrimination Pamphlet.pdf

Fair Housing Sales Discrimination Spanish Pamphlet.pdf