If you or someone you know is in need of assistance, please visit our Help for Texans Page.
The Federal Fair Housing Act refers to Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (www.justice.gov). This Act, in addition to the Texas Fair Housing Act (www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us), protects your right to rent an apartment, buy a home, obtain a mortgage, or purchase homeowners insurance free from discrimination based on:
- Race
- Color
- National Origin
- Religion
- Sex
- Familial Status, and
- Disability
Cities, counties, and other municipalities may have additional housing discrimination laws to protect additional groups. To find out about existing additional protections in your City, County, or municipality you may find and contact your local Legal Aid Office using TXLawHelp.org (www.txlawhelp.org).
In addition to the Act, the following legislation and executive orders may apply and provide a basis for federal fair housing enforcement:
- Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (www.justice.gov)
- The Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 (www.access-board.gov)
- Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 (www.justice.gov)
- Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (www.hud.gov)
- Section 109 of Title I of the Housing Act of 1974 (govinfo.gov)
- The Age Discrimination Act of 1975 (www.dol.gov)
- Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (www.ada.gov)
- The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 (PDF) (www.gpo.gov)
- Executive Orders (hud.gov):
- 11063 (govinfo.gov)
- 11246 (dol.gov)
- 12892 (PDF)
- 12898 (PDF)
- 13166 (PDF)
- 13217 (PDF)
For help in identifying what discrimination may look like, please view the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) YouTube Channel (youtube.com), HUD’s Fair Housing and Civil Rights page (https://www.hudexchange.info/programs/fair-housing/), or the National Fair Housing Alliance page (fairhousingresourcecenter.com). If you believe you have been a victim of discrimination, view the How to File a Complaint page. To download more information, including the HUD complaint app and fair housing rights brochures, visit our Toolkits, Sample Forms, and Downloads page.
Through education, outreach, training, program administration, monitoring, and rule provision, TDHCA works to ensure that its housing and assistance programs are compliant with HUD’s requirements and regulations regarding fair housing. TDHCA’s fair housing staff also administer Texas Administrative Code rules related to reasonable accommodations, written policies and procedures, and affirmative marketing.
The current planning document, the State of Texas Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice is the state’s primary fair housing planning guide through 2024.
TDHCA’s fair housing staff also work with The Texas Workforce Commission’s (TWC) Civil Rights Division (CRD). TWC-CRD is tasked with enforcing the State of Texas’s Fair Housing Act, which was passed in 1989 and prohibits discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, religion, familial status, and disabilities in homeownership or rental housing opportunities. TDHCA works with TWC to ensure that prospective applicants and residents are aware of TWC’s complaint process and that owners and management agents operating TDHCA properties and programs are aware of their responsibilities under the Federal and State Fair Housing Act. If you believe you have been a victim of discrimination complaints can be filed by email, fax, hand delivery, online, or mail or can be filed electronically with TWC here: https://apps.twc.state.tx.us/HDISS/hdiss?execution=e1s1
For more information please visit the How to File a Fair Housing Complaint.
You can learn more about your Fair Housing rights with this poster (PDF) (Español {PDF}) or visit our YouTube playlist.
Fair Housing Training
A list of TDHCA approved Fair Housing Trainers and other training resources.
Fair Housing Training Presentations
TDHCA's Fair Housing webinars, handouts, scripts, and slides.
Analysis of Impediments
The State of Texas' 5-year fair housing planning document, resources, and updates.
How to file a Fair Housing Complaint
Information on how to file a Fair Housing Act complaint or a complaint about a TDHCA-monitored property or program.