Everyone has a right to housing that meets their needs, but that wasn’t always the case.  

The Fair Housing Act was signed into law on April 11, 1968, prohibiting discrimination based on:

• race
• national origin
• religion
• sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation)
• ability
• and familial status

Oregon State law also protects recipients of public assistance and survivors of domestic violence from housing discrimination. 

April is Fair Housing Month 

Housing discrimination can take many forms. It may include community members being denied opportunities to rent, purchase, finance, or obtain insurance on a home because of a protected class. Housing discrimination can also take the form of land use regulations or neighbor-on-neighbor harassment.

The concept of “fair housing” recognizes that people have the right to choose where they live, but historically that has not always been the case across the country and in Oregon. Today, federal, state, and local laws all play a part in protecting people seeking housing.  

“Fair Housing Month serves as a reminder of the ongoing need to provide fair housing opportunities for all people in the community,” said Ann Hawkins, City of Hillsboro Community Development Block Grant Coordinator.  

Through the promotion of fair housing education, and the enforcement of fair housing practices, we can help eliminate housing discrimination and create welcoming, diverse and inclusive communities.  

The Hillsboro City Council will proclaim April Fair Housing Month at its meeting on Tuesday, April 7.

Learn About Housing Discrimination 

Anywhere but Here: The History of Housing Discrimination in Oregon 
Wednesday, April 15 to Thursday, April 30 at Hillsboro Civic Center 

View the seven-panel exhibit by the Fair Housing Council of Oregon that chronicles Oregon’s largely unknown history of discrimination, segregation, and displacement. Learn about the progress we’ve made in overcoming this history and the challenges that remain. 

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Discrimination While Applying 

Housing discrimination is treating a person differently in any housing transaction because that person is a member of a protected class. 

Reasonable Accommodation 

If you are living with a disability learn your rights to make a request for a landlord to make an exception to a policy, rule, or procedure. 

Children & Section 8 

It is illegal to discriminate against families with children and people who use Section 8 vouchers. Creating rules aimed at children causes a disparate impact for families with children. A disparate impact is when a rule or procedure sounds neutral but when put into practice, causes a negative and disproportionate impact on a particular group. 

Harassment by Neighbors

It's illegal to discriminate against people because of their national origin or sexual orientation. If both neighbors have the same landlord, and the harassments is based on a protected class, than the landlord has a legal responsibility to protect fair housing rights of the people being harassed and to stop the harassment. 

Discrimination While Exiting Housing

Housing providers should be consistent in how they are treating all tenants. 

How to Report Housing Discrimination 

If you believe your rights may have been violated, we encourage you to report housing discrimination. 

When reporting housing discrimination, please gather as much information as possible, including: 

1. Document all interactions with landlords or housing providers and neighbors. Keep a record of all documents, letters, receipts, contracts, emails, voicemail messages, and notices.
2. Take pictures of the issue, if possible.
3. Get names and numbers of the people involved
4. Record details such as the date(s) of the incident(s), address where it happened, costs you incur, etc.
5. Talk to neighbors: You might not be the only person experiencing the issue. 
6. Contact the Fair Housing Council of Oregon | Phone: (800) 424-3247 ext 2