Fair Housing
What is Fair Housing?
Fair housing is the umbrella term for laws that prohibit discrimination in the rental or sale of homes or while providing housing-related services like home loans or insurance. Under fair housing laws, people with similar income levels should have the same housing choices available to them regardless of race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, sex, disability, marital status, familial status (having children under the age of 18), source of income, sexual orientation or any other arbitrary factor.Who is protected?
Federal and state fair housing laws prohibit discrimination in the sale, rental, lease, or negotiation for real property based on protected status. Under federal law protected status includes race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status (having children under the age of 18) and disability. California fair housing laws also prohibit discrimination on the basis of age, marital status, ancestry, source of income, sexual orientation, gender identity and any arbitrary characteristic.Fair Housing Resources
Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO)
FHEO administers and enforces federal laws and establishes policies that make sure all Americans have equal access to the housing of their choice. Learn more about FHEO, or contact the Housing Discrimination Hotline by email (fheo_webmanager@hud.gov), or at (800) 669-9777 (voice) or (800) 927-9275 (TTY).Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) (HUD website)
Fair Housing Services
The City of Turlock contracts with non-profits to provide services to support fair housing in Turlock. For Fair Housing Information, please contact:Project Sentinel
1231 8th Street, Suite 425
Modesto, CA 95354
(209) 236-1577
Project Sentinel web site
Regular Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. -12 noon and 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Project Sentinel investigates housing discrimination complaints, helps people with disabilities overcome barriers to housing, and provides information and counseling on fair housing and landlord/tenant law.
Landlord Tenant Issues and free information pamphlets from Project Sentinel
Fair Housing Laws and Presidential Orders
Outreach tools (posters and brochures) from Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Outreach tools (posters and brochures) from Housing and Urban Development (HUD):
Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity for All Booklet - EnglishFair Housing and Equal Opportunity for All Booklet - Spanish
Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity for All Booklet - Other languages available from HUD website link above.
California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH)
The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) is the state agency responsible for protecting residents of California from unlawful discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations, and from the perpetration of acts of hate violence. The DFEH investigates only discrimination complaints. If you feel you have been or are being discriminated against call the DFEH at 1-800-884-1684 (voice) or 800-700-2320 (TTY-if you are deaf or hard of hearing) or email contact.center@dfeh.ca.gov or www.dfeh.ca.govTenant Rights, Laws and Protections: California (HUD website)