Fair Housing

Inland Fair Housing & Mediation Board

A private not-for-profit corporation to provide a comprehensive dispute resolution program and conciliation to support the Federal and State Fair Housing Laws. 

Services: 

  • Discrimination investigation and assistance
  • Discussion of options, such as conciliation with a landlord, referral to a government enforcement agency, or private attorney

The Fair Housing Services are available at no charge. The comprehensive housing services are provided by a trained staff in English and Spanish. Individual counseling is available by appointment and conciliation of disputes can be resolved by calling or stopping by the office any weekday during office hours.

Discrimination and Fair Housing Laws

If you are a victim of discrimination:

  • Immediately write down what happened to you
  • Make sure you have the name of the manager, agent, or owner you spoke with
  • Write down the address of the house or apartment building as well as the number of the unit
  • If you obtain the information from a newspaper, clip out the advertisement
  • Call the Inland Fair Housing and Mediation Board at (909) 984-2254 or toll free at (800) 321-0911

1968 Civil Rights Act

Title VIII prohibits housing discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, or sex. In 1988 Congress passed the Fair Housing Amendments Act which added the disabled and families with children as protected classes.

Rumford Act  

The Rumford Act is the California State Law prohibiting housing discrimination for all protected classes under Title VIII, as well as for marital status, ancestry, sexual orientation, and source of income.

Unruh Civil Rights Act

The Unruh Civil Rights Act (Civil Code Section 51, 52) prohibits discrimination in all business establishments, including housing, based on age and any arbitrary reason.

Ralph Civil Rights Act of 1976

The Ralph Civil Rights Act of 1976 specifies the right to be free from violence connected with certain forms of discrimination in housing and is a non-exclusive option for enforcing this right and the Unruh Act.

California Civil Code Section 54.1

California Civil Code Section 54.1 prohibits discrimination based on physical disability. This precludes restrictions on seeing eye dogs and signal dogs from a no pet clause.

Enforcement Agencies

State 

Under California State Fair Housing Laws, persons who feel they are victims of discrimination because of their race, color, sex, marital status, ancestry, national origin, age, disability, religion, familial status, source of income, or sexual orientation should call the Department of Fair Employment and Housing at (800) 884-1684 or TDD (213) 897-2840.

Federal

Under Federal Fair Housing Laws, persons who feel they are victims of discrimination because of their race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, and disability (including mental disability, alcoholism, or drug addiction not resulting from current abuse of controlled substances) should call the Department of Housing and Urban Development at (800) 669-9777 or TDD (800) 927-9275.