Fair Housing Law Project (FHLP)
GBLA’s Fair Housing Law Project is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (HUD/FHEO).  The Project aids Kern County residents who have been the victims of illegal housing discrimination.   

Project Goal
The Project’s goal is to assure that all qualified housing seekers, whether prospective renters or purchasers, have access to the housing they want and can afford, without fear of being denied opportunities or treated differently by housing providers because of their appearance, background, or beliefs.

Project Services
Services include complaint-based investigations, various workshops on fair housing, and review of the overall housing market to assure compliance with fair housing laws, including those relating to access for people with disabilities in new multi-family housing developments.

When an investigation uncovers evidence of discrimination, the Project will take legal or administrative action on behalf of victims and the broader community.

The Project will have a positive impact on the housing market.  Complaints are initiated by people who believe they are victims of discrimination—or that they might be.  In many cases, investigations will unearth no evidence of illegal conduct and allay unfounded suspicions.

When investigations show evidence of discrimination resulting from ignorance or accident, the Project will seek to educate the housing provider and resolve issues without formal enforcement actions.  However, when evidence of intentional, extreme, or pervasive discrimination is uncovered, the Project will initiate enforcement action against those responsible.

About Fair Housing
Federal and state laws protect all persons from housing discrimination.  The federal Fair Housing Act (FHA) was passed in 1968.  In its current form, the FHA outlaws discrimination in housing on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, or family status.  In California, protected categories also include age, ancestry, marital status, sexual orientation, source of income, and arbitrary characteristics.

Although federal and state agencies handle discrimination complaints, fair housing programs such as GBLA’s Fair Housing Law Project play a critical private enforcement role.  Fair housing programs educate the public about their legal rights and responsibilities, conduct investigations to help prove or disprove allegations of discrimination, and file lawsuits or complaints with administrative agencies on behalf of victims.

These private enforcement actions can result in court orders for housing providers to cease discriminatory practices, provide appropriate training for owners, managers, and employees, and inform housing seekers of their fair housing rights—in addition to financial or other compensation to victims.

FHLP Literature
FHLP is developing brochures and flyers to inform Kern County residents about their fair housing rights and the services we provide.  Check back regularly for new additions.  Please feel free to print, post, and distribute FHLP’s literature to organizations and individuals who might want to learn more.

FHLP Brochure
Fair Housing Flyer • Race or Color
Fair Housing Flyer • National Origin
Fair Housing Flyer • Religion
Fair Housing Flyer • Sex (Gender)
Fair Housing Flyer • Family Status
Fair Housing Flyer • Disability

Check Back For Updates!
The Project will provide important updates on this webpage. Updates will include information on available workshops, a mechanism for filing a complaint for those who believe they are victims of discrimination (please call our Project for now), and other information and services. Please check back.   

For More Information
For more information, call FHLP at 661-334-4679 or 1-888-292-4252 extension 1179, or send an email to fairhousing@gbla.org.

Related Websites 
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD): http://portal.hud.gov/portal/page/portal/HUD

The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing: ww.dfeh.ca.gov