What is Fair Housing?
Fair housing is the right to choose housing free from unlawful discrimination. Federal, state and local fair housing laws protect people from discrimination in housing transactions such as rentals, sales, lending and insurance.
Who is Protected by Fair Housing Laws?
The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing for the following:
- Race
- Color
- Religion
- National origin
- Gender
- Disability
- Familial status (presence of children under the age of 18 and pregnancy)
In Illinois, there are laws in place to protect the same traits as federal law, plus:
- Ancestry
- Age
- Military
- Military Discharge Status
- Marital Status
- Protective Order Status
- Sexual Orientation
For more information or legal services to discuss your fair housing complaint, please contact our partners at Prairie State Legal Services.
If you would like to file a Fair Housing Complaint, please download and fill out the Illinois Housing/Real Estate Transaction Complainant Information Sheet.
