News

HUD: We Will Now Fully Enforce FHA to Prohibit LGBT Discrimination

February 18, 2021 | Categories: About the FHC | Tags: Fair Housing Act, gender identity, HUD, LGBT, lgbtq, sexual orientation, Transgender

Sexual orientation and gender identity are now officially included in “sex” discrimination under the Fair Housing Act. While our office has been acting under this assumption for decades, we both applaud and are hopeful for what this official declaration means for our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and gender nonconforming community members. Jeanine M. Worden, Acting […]

Criminal Background and Housing Info

January 6, 2021 | Categories: About the FHC | Tags: criminal background, Fair Housing Center of Southeast & Mid Michigan, fair housing law, housing discrimination, HUD, landlord, latino, race, tenant, tenant rights

“We have a ‘no felony’ policy.” “If you served time in the last 20 years, we won’t take you.” “We don’t even look at an application if you have a criminal record.” “Arrested? You can’t live here.” If you’ve heard any of those statements (or others), call the Fair Housing Center of Southeast & Mid […]

Apartment Complex Sued for “No Felony” Policy

April 24, 2020 | Categories: About the FHC | Tags: criminal background, Fair Housing Center of Southeast & Mid Michigan, Felony, HUD, hud rule, lawsuit, US Department of Housing and Urban Development

Fair Housing Center of Southeast & Mid MichiganPO Box 7825, Ann Arbor, MI 48107 (877) 979-FAIR www.fhcmichigan.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMarch 31, 2020 Media Contacts: Attorney William F. Piper 269-321-5008A copy of the complaint can be found here. Apartment Complex Sued for “No Felony” Policy On February 26, 2020, The Fair Housing Center of Southeast & […]

Defend Civil Rights

September 6, 2019 | Categories: About FHC | Tags: civil rights, Defend Civil Rights, Disparate Impact, Disparate Impact Claim, Fair Housing Act, HUD, NFHA

A vital protection against housing segregation and discrimination is under attack. The current administration is attempting to rollback protections against housing discrimination by gutting a part of the Fair Housing Act (FHA). At stake is a protection under the FHA called “disparate impact.” This protection says that lenders, landlords, and other housing professionals should choose policies that […]

Criminal Background and Housing Info Session

August 3, 2017 | Categories: Events | Tags: criminal background, fair housing, Fair Housing Center of Southeast & Mid Michigan, housing, HUD, US Department of Housing and Urban Development

Heard This? “We have a blanket ‘no felony’ policy” “If you served time in the last 20 years, we won’t take you” “We don’t even look an application if you have a criminal record” “Arrested? You can’t live here” If any of these comments affect your life (or the lives of your family and friends) […]

FHC Contributes to HUD’s First LGBTQ Housing Discrimination Study

June 7, 2017 | Categories: About the FHC, Gender Identity, LGBTQ, News, Publications, Sexual Orientation | Tags: Fair Housing Act, gender identity, HUD, LGBT, lgbtq, sexual orientation, Transgender, Urban Institute

The groundbreaking work of the Fair Housing Center of Southeast & Mid Michigan was acknowledged in a new study titled “Paired-Testing Pilot Study of Housing Discrimination against Same-Sex Couples and Transgender Individuals.” The HUD-funded Urban Institute study tested for discrimination against same-sex and transgender individuals and advanced recommendations for future research and fair housing practitioners. […]

New Media Coverage on FHC Complaint Against Ypsilanti Township Policy

May 31, 2016 | Categories: Media, News, Press Release | Tags: fair housing, Fair Housing Center of Southeast & Mid Michigan, HUD, Township of Ypsilanti, US Department of Housing and Urban Development, Ypsilanti Township

The Fair Housing Center filed a complaint with HUD in January, 2016, regarding the Township of Ypsilanti’s ban on Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8). Our position is that the township’s rules disproportionately impact minorities, women, disabled residents and women with children – all groups protected under the Fair Housing Act. “Ypsilanti Township hires new attorney to […]

Fair Housing Center responds to “No Section 8” policy in Ypsilanti Township, MI

May 3, 2016 | Categories: News | Tags: disability, Disparate Impact Claim, Fair Housing Center of Southeast & Mid Michigan, familial status, housing voucher, HUD, race, Section 8, sex, US Department of Housing and Urban Development, Ypsilanti Township

The Fair Housing Center of Southeast & Mid Michigan has filed a new discrimination complaint against the Charter Township of Ypsilanti. You can read the housing complaint here. Related MLive articles: First-of-its-kind plan bans section 8 housing, limits rentals in new Ypsilanti Township developments Ypsilanti Township bans section 8 housing, limits rentals in new subdivision […]

New Rule Bans Landlords from Blanket Denials Based on Criminal Background

April 13, 2016 | Categories: Fair Housing Law, News, Press Release | Tags: criminal background, disability, fair housing, housing, HUD, national origin, race, Reasonable Accommodation, US Department of Housing and Urban Development

Fair Housing Center of Southeast & Mid Michigan PO Box 7825, Ann Arbor, MI 48107 (877) 979-FAIR FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Press Release PDF April 12, 2016 For more information, contact: Kristen Cuhran, (877) 979-3247 New Rule Bans Landlords from Blanket Denials Based on Criminal Background On April 4, 2016, the United States Department of Housing and Urban […]

FHC Awarded Nearly $1,000,000 to Fight Housing Discrimination

October 20, 2014 | Categories: About FHC, News | Tags: fair housing center of southeastern michigan, FHIP, funding, grant, HUD, Michigan, Michigan fair housing centers, PEI-MYC, Private Enforcement Initiative, US Department of Housing and Urban Development

On October 15, 2014, the Fair Housing Center of Southeastern Michigan received notice of a three-year grant totaling $974,832 by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban