Fair Housing: Housing Division, Vermont Department of Housing & Community Affairs

Fair Housing is the right to equal opportunity in rental, sale, and financing of housing under federal, state and local laws.

The Federal Fair Housing Act was part of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, making it illegal to discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, and sex. In 1988, Congress added familial status and disability to the categories protected under that law. Vermont's Fair Housing Act is similar to federal law with five additional protected categories: marital status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, and receipt of public assistance.

The CVOEO Fair Housing Project works to eradicate housing discrimination in Vermont through education, outreach and enforcement of fair housing laws. The FHP has conducted several studies funded by HUD on fair housing rental and sales practices in Vermont. The FHP advocates for victims of discrimination and conducts screening to help determine whether or not a case has merit and makes appropriate referrals to enforcement agencies. In addition, the FHP has created public awareness campaigns including bus advertisements, radio and televised public service announcements, and educational trainings.

Check out the CVOEO Fair Housing Handbook, and CVOEO Fair Housing Handbook for Landlords! more

Please note that the next edition will be devoted to answering YOUR fair housing questions! Submit questions to fhnews@cvoeo.org by April 7, 2012.

All issues include "Around the Nation", "Recent Vermont Cases", and Online Fair Housing Resources!

Fall 2011 Fair Housing News - What is a dwelling?

Summer 2011 Fair Housing News - Fair Housing, Land Use Planning, and You

Spring 2011 Fair Housing Newsletter - Service and Assistant Animals!

The Vermont Human Rights Commission enforces a number of antidiscrimination laws including the Fair Housing and Public Accommodations Act, and Fair Employment Practices Act (when the employer is a State agency). The Human Rights Commission can be reached toll-free at 1-800-416-2010.

Updated for 2011! The following two documents explain the rights of the elderly and people with disabilities in mobile home parks, and the rights of people with disabilities to have assistance animals. (Require Acrobat Reader)

The Housing Discrimination Law Project, a project of Vermont Legal Aid, Inc. is dedicated to defending the civil rights of victims of housing discrimination by pursuing justice on their behalf. They investigate complaints of housing discrimination, pursue litigation when necessary, and enforce both federal and state fair housing laws. The Housing Discrimination Law Project also provides fair housing education and information to individuals and groups statewide as well as referrals to other agencies who do fair housing investigations, including the Vermont Human Rights Commission and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). For information call 1-800-889-2047.

The Vermont Center for Independent Living: "Mission Accessible
Consumer choice, autonomy and control define the Independent Living Movement. The independent living philosophy holds that individuals with disabilities have the right to live with dignity and with appropriate support in their own homes, fully participate in their communities, and to control and make decisions about their lives. Vermont Center for Independent Living - Citizens with disabilities working together for dignity, independence and civil rights."

Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing at the Municipal Level - a Powerpoint presentation of the Vermont Human Rights Commission, the Department of Housing and Community Affairs and Vermont Legal Aid.

Upcoming Fair Housing Training Opportunities:

To register call Dani Fuoco at the Champlain Valley OEO Fair Housing Project at 802-864-3334 x 109 or email dfuoco@cvoeo.org.

Check back soon for more details and more AFFH training dates.

REMOVING BARRIERS TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES:
AFFORDABLE HOUSING & AFFIRMATIVELY FURTHERING FAIR HOUSING
AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. This workshop will explain the relationship between fair housing law and land use regulations. Tools will be provided to help municipalities avoid violating federal and state fair housing laws.

All municipalities receiving community development grants from the Vermont
Community Development Program must complete a Fair Housing Training as a
condition of funding. Any municipality dealing with issues such as affordable
housing, group homes, residential care facilities, requests for accessibility modifications, or seeking VCDP funding, cannot afford to miss this workshop.

Free and open to the public.

Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice

The state is in the process of updating its 2006 Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice. This is a HUD-required report that seeks to identify the various factors that may affect fair housing choice in Vermont and to develop a five-year action plan to overcome them.

The Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice (AI) is a study conducted every five years in connection with the State's programs funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

For more information about the AI please come back to this webpage often.

Request for Proposals (PDF 213 Kb)

Vermont's last AI was conducted in 2006 and has been used to provide a basis for a broad-based education and outreach program and public relations campaign conducted jointly with the Vermont Human Rights Commission.

You need Acrobat Reader to view documents marked by

If you haven't downloaded it before, it's easy and it's free!