What is
the Fair Housing Board?
The Fair Housing Board was established in 2000
to ensure that all Cleveland citizens receive fair and equitable
treatment in purchasing or renting housing or commercial property
and service at public accommodations. Fair Housing means equal
opportunity for all persons. Fair housing is a civil rights
issue-know how to identify it and what to do about it.
In the City of Cleveland, illegal discrimination
in housing can occur because of your race, color, religion,
national origin or ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, marital
or familial status, age, disability, or Vietnamese-era or disabled-veteran
status.
The
Ordinance
Ordinance No. 162-A-2000, Fair Housing and Public
Accommodations, covers a variety of real-estate related transactions:
- Rental or sales:
are you being offered the same treatment as other prospective
renters or buyers?
- Lending: are you
aware of the difference between prime and sub-prime loans?
Were you offered differing terms or conditions because of
your race or national origin?
- Homeowners insurance:
are you being offered the best policy for your home, regardless
of the neighborhood in which it is located?
- Appraisers: are
you getting a fair appraisal for your home, without regard to
the neighborhood in which it is located?
If you think you have been subject to discrimination
in housing, the Fair Housing Board has trained staff to listen
to your situation, analyze the issue, and, if appropriate, help
you file a complaint. Let our staff answer your questions and
evaluate your situation and determine whether a potential violation
has occurred. Mediation is presented as an option to the parties
involved. If mediation is unsuccessful, an investigation will
occur. The Fair Housing Board will determine whether sufficient
evidence exists for a hearing to proceed.
If a hearing shows that a violation occurred,
then the Fair Housing Board will decide upon the remedy. The
remedy can be an affirmative remedy, such as training for the
respondent or allowing the complainant the ability to rent the
unit or apply for the loan. Other remedies include monetary
relief, such as out-of-pocket expenses or attorney fees.
Beyond
Fair Housing:
Commercial Property
Accommodations Chapter 665, Fair Housing, of the
City's Codified Ordinances also covers commercial property.
For example: you try to rent a storefront to operate your business,
but you are denied. Could that denial be discriminatory, based
upon your race your national origin, or because you are
a woman? Call the Fair Housing Board to investigate.
The Fair Housing Board also investigates alleged
discrimination at places like restaurants, bars, nightclubs, retail
stores, barbershops, auto repair shops, etc. The complaint process
is the same as the fair housing complaint process. Call us if
you think your rights have been violated.
