This guide talks about the Federal Fair Housing act and answers some initial questions about your rights and courses of action if you think you have been a victim of housing discrimination.

Under the Federal Fair Housing Act, part of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or familial status is illegal in housing transactions (with a few exceptions). In the Chicago region, there are other laws that also provide protection from discrimination - the Illinois Human Rights Act, the Cook County Human Rights Act, and the City of Chicago Human Relations Ordinance. Under these three laws, there are an additional seven categories, or protected classes - sexual orientation (including gender identity), ancestry, military discharge status, housing status, source of income (including Section 8 or Housing Choice Vouchers in Chicago), marital status, and age.

It is illegal for you if you are turned away from purchasing or renting a home, steered into a specific neighborhood or building, or denied homeowners insurance or a mortgage because of your membership in one of these categories.

Here are answers to a few basic questions about housing discrimination:

How do I know if I have been a victim of housing discrimination?

If you are denied the opportunity to rent or buy housing, or experience differential treatment in your attempt to inspect, buy, or view a property of your choice because of your protected class, you may be a victim of housing discrimination. Other signs to look for are possible different terms and conditions in renting or buying property, or discouragement from the property or neighborhood in which you were interested.

What is a “protected class”?

Under federal, state, county, and local laws, it is illegal to discriminate against people based on certain things about them – their race, their religion, whether or not they have children, etc. These attributes are referred to as “protected classes”, and it is illegal for someone to discriminate against you based on these qualities. There are 7 protected classes under federal law, 13 under the Chicago fair housing ordinance.

Why should I report housing discrimination?

Many people ask, “Why should I report housing discrimination? I don’t want to live where I am not wanted.” According to the National Fair Housing Alliance, it is estimated that each year there are 3.4 million instances of illegal housing discrimination – but only a tiny fraction of these incidents are reported. Everyone has the right to live where they want to live. Housing discrimination deprives you of this right, cutting off your access to schools, communities, transportation, and a wide variety of opportunities. By filing a complaint, you may be able get the unit you wanted or recoup damages.

How can I file a complaint?

Does your complaint fall under one of the protected classes? Are you being discriminated against because of your race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, ancestry, marital status, disability, military discharge status, source of income, or because you have children?

Keep all documents and correspondence between you and the housing provider, mortgage lender, or insurance company with which you have been in contact. If you were trying to buy or rent a home or apartment, have the address of the unit in question, as well as the real estate agent’s or landlord’s contact information.

See the below chart for a breakdown of fair housing laws the cover the Chicago region.

Fair Housing Laws Chart

If you suspect that you have been illegally discriminated against, there are a number of agencies in the region that can help:

Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights
(city and bordering suburbs)
phone: 312-630-9744

South Suburban Housing Center
(south and southwest suburbs)
phone: 708-957-4674

HOPE Fair Housing Center
(western suburbs)
phone: 630-690-6500

Interfaith Housing Center of the Northern Suburbs
(northern suburbs)
phone: 847-501-5760

John Marshall Law School Fair Housing Legal Support Center
(region-wide)
phone: 312-987-2397

Access Living
(disability issues)
TTY:312-640-2169
phone: 312-640-2147

Lawyers’ Committee for Better Housing
(city of Chicago only)
phone: 312-347-7600