The Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act prohibits housing providers in Michigan from denying rentals or making different terms or conditions for tenants because a person is single, partnered, married, widowed, separated, or divorced.
If you hear…
Sorry, we would like to rent to you, but we’d like a nice, professional, married couple in our home.
We need a higher down payment since you’re a single woman.
We don’t rent out apartments to married gay couples.
I’m sorry about the death of your wife, but we need to reconsider your current living arrangements.
Can we really trust you to make your payments if you’re divorced?
Then you may be experiencing housing discrimination.
Gretchen Fogel and Carla Daniels, a lesbian couple who have been a family for 15 years, were denied the opportunity to apply jointly for a two-bedroom unit because they were not related by blood or law. A suit was filed claiming discrimination based on sex, marital status and sexual orientation. This case is believed to be the first time that marital status and sex provisions of the Michigan Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act were used to uphold the housing rights of a same sex couple. According to the settlement agreement University Townhouses will “treat same sex couples in the same matter as it treats unmarried couples for the purpose of accepting and acting on applications for membership…”, along with paying an undisclosed cash settlement.
Read MoreIf you believe you have been the victim of housing discrimination, please call us toll-free at 1-877-979-FAIR to discuss the situation.
Information provided about allegations or complaints of housing discrimination will be kept confidential. We will not report undocumented immigrants to the authorities.
Retaliation is illegal. Any attempt should be immediately reported to the FHC.