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at your service
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Housing Discrimination If you have experienced an act of discrimination
related to housing, please file a Housing
Discrimination Complaint Form. You have one year after the alleged violation
to file a complaint with HUD, but it is best to file it as soon as possible. The
Housing Discrimination Complaint Form may be: - Completed online
and submitted
- Downloaded completed and returned
You may
also: - Write HUD a letter
- Telephone the HUD office nearest
you Local HUD Offices HUD can help!
Local
HUD Office HUD
can help!
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As a housing
provider:
The
Fair Housing Act (FHAct) protects all citizens from discrimination
on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, handicap
or familial status (families with children under the age of 18 living
with parents or legal guardians; pregnant women and people trying
to get custody of children under 18).
Senior Housing Exemption
Although the FHAct was amended in 1988 to prohibit discrimination
on the basis of disability and familial status, Congress intended
to preserve housing specifically designed to meet the needs of senior
citizens. Housing that meets the FHAct definition of "housing
for older persons" is exempt from the law's familial
status requirements, provided that:
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HUD has determined that the dwelling is specifically designed
for and occupied by elderly persons under a Federal, State or
local government program or
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It is occupied solely by persons who are 62 or older or
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It houses at least one person who is 55 or older in at least 80
percent of the occupied units, and adheres to a policy that demonstrates
intent to house persons who are 55 or older.
Therefore,
housing that satisfies the legal definition of senior housing or housing for older
persons described above, can legally exclude families with children.
The
Housing for Older Persons Act of 1995 (HOPA) OMB Approval
Number: 2529-0046 (Expiration Date 6/30/2006)
HOPA got rid of
initial requirements for "significant services and facilities"
within designated senior housing units or areas.
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