A frequent question that HECP receives from both consumers and landlords is whether a certificate from an online service claiming to certify a pet as an emotional support is a sufficient verification when requesting a reasonable accommodation.
News
New Reasonable Accommodation Manual Available
Housing discrimination against people with disabilities often takes the form of housing providers refusing to permit reasonable accommodations or reasonable modifications that allow individuals with disabilities an equal opportunity to use and enjoy their dwelling. HECP has developed a new comprehensive manual on reasonable accommodations and reasonable modifications for persons with disabilities under the Fair Housing Act. This resource includes detailed instructions for requesting reasonable accommodations and modifications, information on medical verifications and assistance animals, sample accommodation and modification requests, and rights and responsibilities of both consumers with disabilities and housing providers under the Fair Housing Act. You can download
Fair Housing News – January 2020
HUD has released new guidance clarifying how housing providers can comply with the Fair Housing Act when assessing requests from a consumers to have an assistance animal as a reasonable accommodation.
Fair Housing News – November 2019
The Housing Equality Center of Pennsylvania and Lehigh County resident, Brittany Bernard, have entered into a settlement agreement resolving allegations that Devonshire Park Apartments violated the federal Fair Housing Act by refusing to rent to families with children.
Allentown Apartment Complex Pays $60,000 for Discriminating Against Families with Children
The Housing Equality Center of Pennsylvania (“HECP”) and Lehigh County resident, Brittany Bernard, have entered into a settlement agreement resolving allegations that Devonshire Park Apartments violated the federal Fair Housing Act by refusing to rent to families with children. HECP conducted an investigation of Devonshire Park, a 271 unit Allentown apartment complex that identified itself as “active adult” in its marketing materials. The investigation documented that prospective renters representing adult households were shown available units and invited to apply, while households with children were told that all residents were required to be over the age of 21 and that the
Fair Housing News – October 2019
The Housing Equality Center offers education and training programs to consumers, social service agencies, and housing professionals. Participants receive accurate, clear, and up-to-date information about their rights and responsibilities under the Fair Housing Act.
Fair Housing News – September 2019
Help shape the future of the Housing Equality Center of Pennsylvania by completing this brief survey. Your insights and ideas will help us set strategic goals for the future to advance our mission and ensure that consumers have access to housing and understand their rights under fair housing laws.
HECP Needs Your Input!
Help shape the future of the Housing Equality Center of Pennsylvania by completing this brief survey. The Housing Equality Center of Pennsylvania is a nonprofit organization leading the effort to eliminate housing discrimination through education, advocacy and enforcement of fair housing laws. Your insights and ideas will help us set strategic goals for the future to advance our mission and ensure that consumers have access to housing and understand their rights. Your answers will remain confidential and will only be used for the purpose of helping us develop our strategic plan for 2020-2022. Please help us with this plan by completing
Fair Housing News – August 2019
A recent settlement in a fair housing case in Virginia has resulted in the development of a model policy for housing providers that avoids discrimination in screening prospective tenants for criminal history.
Fair Housing News – June 2019
In partnership with the Bucks County Office of Community and Economic Development, the Housing Equality Center is offering a free fair housing compliance webinar from 12:00-1:00pm on Wednesday, June 19, 2019. This training will cover basic provisions of the Fair Housing Act, Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing obligations for recipients and subrecipients of federal funding, and technical issues for local governments such as zoning and land use, code enforcement, reasonable accommodations, and group homes for persons with disabilities.