What is fair housing?

Fair housing means everyone has the right to access housing without discrimination. You cannot be denied housing because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, family status, or disability.

The Fair Housing Act ensures landlords, sellers, and lenders cannot deny housing or impose unfair conditions based on these protected details. This applies to renting, buying, and other housing transactions. This law is enforced by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Advocacy and Counseling

Project Sentinel offers housing education and counseling to tenants, including referrals and describing rights and responsibilities for all parties. They also look into complaints related to unfair housing practices and can help you file one.

Think you have been discriminated against while trying to rent or purchase a place to live? Call their Fair Housing Advocacy and Counseling Service at 888-324-7468.

Project Sentinel can also answer questions and help resolve disputes related to deposits, rent increases, repairs, and other housing issues.

A counselor will listen to your housing problem, describe related laws, refer services and resources, and offer options. They can also arrange mediations to help resolve those issues between parties.

Contact 800-339-6043 or info@housing.org for more information.

What is mediation? What are the benefits?

Mediation is a voluntary process where a professional arranges a confidential meeting to allow parties to resolve their issues. The benefits of mediation are that it is:

• Effective: Most cases that enter mediation are resolved.
• Neutral: Mediators are neutral, and they do not impose decisions on the parties.
• Confidential: All conversations during mediation are private and cannot be used against a party in court.
• Free and Convenient: All services are free to all parties. Mediations are arranged to fit the parties’ schedules and are faster and less stressful than other options, such as court.

To protect yourself from eviction, it is important to be aware of your rights. These agencies have more information on tenants' rights and fair housing and may offer low-cost legal services:

• Asian Law Alliance
  They offer help with housing discrimination, public benefits, employment, immigration, domestic violence, and civil rights violations.
  
  
• Bay Area Legal Aid
  They offer low-income clients free civil legal help, including legal advice and counsel, referrals, and legal representation.
  
  
• Law Foundation of Silicon Valley
  Their Housing Program provides free legal advice and representation on housing-related matters to low-income families and individuals.
  
  
• Project Sentinel
  If you received an eviction notice or one is pending, they can explain rights and responsibilities and help with conflicts.

Call the Santa Clara County Assessor’s Office at 408-299-5500 to find out.

You can use any of the following options:

• Submit online through MySantaClara
• Email Building Code Enforcement
• Call 408-615-2440

Visit Code Enforcement for more information about the process.

The following books have useful information on rental issues:

• Weaver, J.S. (2024). California Tenants’ rights. Nolo Press.
• Portman, J., & O'Connell, A. (2024). Every Landlord's Legal Guide. Nolo Press.