Summer 2004

Fair Housing:
 Your Right To Rent or Own A Home

Have you ever had an experience like this?: You called a landlord about an apartment and were given information about costs and what was included in the rent. When you showed up to look at the apartment, however, you were told that it was rented, or that the security deposit was more than you had been told at first, or that heat and hot water were not included in the rent.

If this situation, or something similar, sounds familiar, you may be the victim of housing discrimination. It is against the law for any one, even a neighbor, to harass or intimidate you because you want to buy or rent property.

If you have questions or concerns in this area, please call the Native American Unit at 1-800-879-7463 (942-1060 if using TTY equipment). Pine Tree can help you file a complaint with HUD. You may find it helpful to talk to a Pine Tree advocate at the very beginning of the process. In addition, Pine Tree can provide a speaker to talk to your group about fair housing issues. For more information, please call Anne Hazelton in Augusta at 622-4731 (623-7770 TTY) or you can call Eric Nelson in the Native American Unit.

Where can I get help?

To report discrimination, first contact Pine Tree Legal Assistance at 1-800-879-7463 (942-1060 TTY) or call or write to either of these two government offices:

(You can file an on-line complaint with HUD by clicking on the HUD Office of Fair Housing website.)

Maine Human Rights Commission
51 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333-0051
Phone: 207-624-6050
TTY/TTD: 207-624-6064
FAX: 207-624-6063
HUD Office of Fair Housing
U.S. Dept. of Housing & Urban Development
Thomas P. O'Neill, Jr. Federal Bldg.
10 Causeway Street, Room 321
Boston, MA 02222-1092
Phone: 1-800-827-5005 or
(617) 994-8300
TTY (617) 565-5453
FAX: (617) 565-7313

What will happen if I file a complaint?

In general, you can expect the process of filing a complaint to follow along these lines, regardless of whether you file with the Maine Human Rights Commission (MHRC) or HUD.

You must file a complaint with the MHRC within 6 months of the landlord's illegal act. You must file your complaint with HUD within one year of that act. After you file your complaint, both HUD and the MHRC will send a copy to the landlord, to get his response. An investigator will then look into your case. HUD may end up referring your case to the MHRC.

You will have a chance to settle your problem during the investigation. If you reach an agreement, both sides have to follow it. If you do not agree, then further steps must be taken. This could involve an administrative hearing at HUD or a formal decision by the MHRC. In certain cases you can end up taking your complaint to either state or federal court. If HUD or the MHRC believes -your case has merit, you can often get a lawyer appointed to handle your case for free.