Find Fair Housing Help
If you believe you have experienced housing discrimination, help is available. SDRAFFH member organizations across San Diego County can assist you.
Get Support
You May Have a Fair Housing Issue If…
Fair housing laws protect you from discrimination when renting, buying, or seeking housing assistance. Discrimination can take many forms – some obvious, some subtle.
You may have experienced discrimination if a landlord, seller, real estate agent, lender, or housing provider treated you differently because of a protected characteristic, or if a policy that appears neutral has had a disproportionately harmful impact based on a protected class.
According to the 2020 San Diego Regional Analysis of Impediments, disability-related discrimination was the most commonly reported basis for HUD complaints in the region (53% of cases), followed by race (12%), retaliation (10%), and familial status (9%).
If you are unsure whether what happened to you is discrimination, a SDRAFFH member organization may help you understand your rights and options.
You may have experienced discrimination if a landlord, seller, real estate agent, lender, or housing provider treated you differently because of a protected characteristic, or if a policy that appears neutral has had a disproportionately harmful impact based on a protected class.
According to the 2020 San Diego Regional Analysis of Impediments, disability-related discrimination was the most commonly reported basis for HUD complaints in the region (53% of cases), followed by race (12%), retaliation (10%), and familial status (9%).
If you are unsure whether what happened to you is discrimination, a SDRAFFH member organization may help you understand your rights and options.
Common Signs of Discrimination
- Being told a unit is unavailable when it is actually available
- Being quoted different rental terms or prices than others
- Being steered toward or away from certain neighborhoods
- Receiving a denial based on a housing voucher or source of income
- Being denied a reasonable accommodation for a disability
- Facing harassment or hostile conditions based on a protected characteristic
- Receiving different loan terms or being denied a mortgage based on a protected class
HOW IT WORKS
Getting Help Is Straightforward
Here is what to expect when you reach out to a fair housing provider in the SDRAFFH network.
1. Contact a Provider →
Contact a Provider: Reach out to a SDRAFFH member organization in your area. Legal Aid Society of San Diego and CSA San Diego provide fair housing services to eligible San Diego County residents free of charge.
2. Share Your Experience →
Describe what happened to you. The provider will help you determine whether it may be a fair housing violation.
3. Understand Your Options →
If a violation may have occurred, you'll be informed of your rights and the options available to you.
4. Take Action →
Take Action: With guidance from the provider, you may consider seeking informal resolution or filing a formal complaint for meritorious claims.
Fair Housing Services
Fair Housing Service Providers in the Region
The following organizations provide fair housing services to San Diego County residents, as documented in the 2020 Regional Analysis of Impediments.
CSA San Diego County
CSA actively supports and promotes fair housing through education and advocacy. Between FY 2014 and FY 2018, CSA served approximately 1,000 San Diego County residents per year. CSA primarily serves residents of Chula Vista, El Cajon, La Mesa, National City, Santee, and the unincorporated East County.
Services include: Tenant-landlord mediation, fair housing counseling, discrimination audits, educational seminars in English, Spanish, and other languages, free rental housing handbooks, and enforcement through conciliation, litigation, or administrative referral.
Services include: Tenant-landlord mediation, fair housing counseling, discrimination audits, educational seminars in English, Spanish, and other languages, free rental housing handbooks, and enforcement through conciliation, litigation, or administrative referral.
Legal Aid Society of San Diego (LASSD)
LASSD attorneys fight for equal housing opportunity for San Diego City and County residents through outreach, education, and enforcement of federal, state, and local fair housing laws. The LASSD Fair Housing Team can provide full-scope and wrap around service including counseling, case management, direct legal intervention, and in-court representation.
Services include: Free legal services ranging from advice, to limited scope representation, to full scope representation in affirmative litigation or unlawful detainers. We also conduct community outreach and trainings in English, Spanish, and other languages to housing providers, tenants, and community partners..
Services include: Free legal services ranging from advice, to limited scope representation, to full scope representation in affirmative litigation or unlawful detainers. We also conduct community outreach and trainings in English, Spanish, and other languages to housing providers, tenants, and community partners..
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT, LOCAL TENANT RESOURCES & LEGAL SUPPORT IN SAN DIEGO
Housing Justice Collaborative - San Diego
Facing a rent increase, an eviction notice, or an unresponsive landlord? The Housing Justice Collaborative is a network of San Diego tenant-serving organizations and legal providers working together to keep renters housed. From Know Your Rights workshops to emergency rental assistance and free legal clinics, their resources are built for San Diego tenants.