Do you think you were discriminated against in housing? You have choices about what to do. This page tells you about your choices.
File a complaint with HUD
When you contact HUD (the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development), you are filing a complaint.
HUD handles complaints when federal housing laws are broken. Federal laws protect you against discrimination based on race, color, sex, family status (being pregnant or having children under age 18), disability, national origin or religion.
HUD decides either to investigate a case itself or to send the case to the Vermont Human Rights Commission (HRC), which will investigate. Usually, HUD sends the case to the Vermont HRC.
If HUD keeps your case, a HUD investigator will talk to you and to the person you believe discriminated against you. The investigator will also talk to witnesses.
If HUD finds that you were discriminated against, they will try to help you and the person who discriminated against you agree about how to resolve your claims. If you don’t settle, HUD will file a lawsuit against the housing provider. Or, you can file a lawsuit and use what HUD found as evidence for your case.
To file a complaint with HUD:
1) File a complaint online or
2) Contact HUD’s New England office at 617-994-8200
Find more information about how to file a housing complaint at the HUD website.
File a complaint with the Vermont Human Rights Commission
The Human Rights Commission (HRC) handles complaints when Vermont’s fair housing laws are broken. Vermont’s fair housing laws protect you against discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, family status (being pregnant or having children under age 18), disability, age, being a victim of domestic violence, stalking or sexual assault, or and receiving public assistance or benefits.
When you contact the Human Rights Commission, you are filing a complaint. An HRC investigator will talk to you and to the person you believe discriminated against you. The investigator will also talk to witnesses.
If the HRC finds that you were discriminated against, they will try to help you and the person who discriminated against you settle your claims. If you don’t settle, the HRC will file a lawsuit against the housing provider. Or, you can file a lawsuit and use what the HRC found as evidence in your case.
To file a complaint with HRC:
1) Call 1-800-416-2010, ext. 25 or
2) Follow the HRC’s online directions for filing a complaint form
VIDEOS
Watch HRC videos on YouTube:
Bring a lawsuit in court
You can file a lawsuit against the person or housing provider yourself. You should talk to a lawyer before filing a lawsuit on your own.
Contact the Vermont Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service to find a lawyer.
At this time, Legal Services Vermont and Vermont Legal Aid can only help you if:
- the housing discrimination is due to being a victim or survivor of abuse, sexual assault or stalking, or
- you need advice about reasonable accommodations in your housing.
