Fair Housing is a right protected by federal and state laws and the Albuquerque Human Rights Ordinance. Fair housing means you may freely choose a place to live without regard to your:

• Race
• Color
• National origin
• Ancestry
• Religion
• Sex
• Disability

Fair housing protects your right to housing choice to include most:

• Rental opportunities
• Home buying opportunities
• Credit related to housing
• Advertising of housing

It is also unlawfull to:

• Threaten,
• Intimidate, or
• Interfere with

any person's right to fair housing.

What can the Albuquerque Human Rights Office (AHRO) do for me?

If you feel you have been discriminated against, fill out a complaint on-line or call the AHRO at (505) 924-3380 to discuss filing a discrimination complaint.

What happens when I file a discrimination complaint?

AHRO, as a neutral party, will serve the complaint on the party who is alleged to have violated the law (the respondent).

A respondent:

• Is given the opportunity to consider resolving the case prior to an investigation through a Pre-Determination Settlement Agreement (PDS), a mutual agreement between the complainant and respondent.
• Has a right to answer the complaint, if the respondent chooses an investigation.
• Must provide AHRO with requested data and any additional relevant information regarding the complaint.

What is a Pre-Determination Settlement Agreement?

A Pre-Determination Settlement Agreement provides both parties an opportunity to resolve the complaint voluntarily without a determination as to its merits before the change is investigated.

How are investigations conducted?

If the complaint is not resolved during the preliminary stages, it will be fully investigated. An AHRO investigator may need to:

• Conduct interviews of the complainant's and respondent's witnesses.
• Have access to pertinent records and documents for review.
• Make an on-site inspection of facilities and operations.

If the complaint is substantiated, a formal conciliation effort may be required to determine corrective measures to resolve the complaint such as:

• The previously denied housing be made available.
• Compensation for any actual losses incurred because of the discrimination.
• Other actions to prevent or to eliminate the effects of discrimination.

If you are a housing provider

As a housing provider, it is your duty to understand and practice Fair Housing. If you need more information about our training and outreach programs, please contact our office. There is no fee for services.