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Frequently Asked Questions about Housing for People with Disabilities

This information from the ENDependence Center of Northern Virginia’s (ECNV) has answers to frequently asked questions about affordable, accessible housing.  It explains universal design, the difference between accessible and adaptable housing, what the Fair Housing Act requires and many more housing issues that affect people with disabilities. 

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Understanding the Fair Housing Amendments Act (FHAA)

A publication of United Spinal Association to help both persons with disabilities and advocates better understand the FHAA. This document explains the law and how to make it work for people with disabilities.  This law is intended to increase housing opportunities for people with disabilities. However, individual citizens must come forward with concerns or file complaints if they believe their rights have been violated.  This link opens a PDF document.

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Accessibility Analysis of Model Building Codes

Contains Federal Register Notice of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's review of four model building codes. Describes the difference between the codes and the design and construction requirements of the Fair Housing Act.

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Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accessibility Guidelines

Information on ADA Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) and revised Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) guidelines from the U.S. Access Board, which are used by the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Transportation to set enforceable standards.

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Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Checklist for New Lodging Facilities

Checklist designed to help hotels, motels, inns and other places of lodging comply with the ADA and be accessible to people with disabilities.

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Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Frequently Asked Questions

Fact sheet from the U.S. Department of Justice and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission with answers to common questions regarding the ADA.

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Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Information Line

The U.S. Department of Justice provides information about the ADA through a toll-free information line (1-800-514-0301). This service permits businesses, state and local governments and others to ask questions about ADA requirements and order ADA technical assistance materials.

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Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Standards for Accessible Design

One of two standards (along with the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards) for new construction and alterations under the ADA for state and local government facilities. In addition to being incorporated into local building codes, they are a good source for univeral design concepts when building or remodeling private homes.

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Compliance with Fair Housing Act for Low Income Housing Tax Credit Properties

Information about the Memorandum Of Understanding and responsibilities among the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Justice.

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Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) Funds Recipient Obligations Under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act

Guidelines for HUD fund recipients regarding compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

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Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) Information for People with Disabilities

Information about housing rights and responsibilities for people with disabilities, housing providers and building and design professionals.

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Department of Housing & Urban Development Fair Housing Rights & Resources

Gateway to information about fair housing rights for people with disabilities.

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Disability Law Handbook

Provides information on rights and obligations under federal disability laws, including an overview of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. The entire publication can be downloaded in PDF format.

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Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities: Guidance for Practitioners

Companion guide to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's study entitled Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities: Barriers at Every Step offers practical information to advocates, enforcement and regulatory agencies and other interested parties about the possible uses of disability discrimination testing as an investigative tool to aid in the enforcement of the fair housing laws.

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Fair Housing & Equal Opportunity

Information about the Fair Housing Act as described by the Office for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO).

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Fair Housing Accessibility FIRST

Initiative sponsored by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) designed to promote compliance with the Fair Housing Act design and construction requirements.

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Fair Housing Act Design & Construction Requirements

Fair Housing Accessibility Guidelines provide builders and developers with technical guidance on how to comply with specific accessibility requirements of the Fair Housing Act.

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Fair Housing Act Design Manual

Provides information about the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Fair Housing Act Design Manual, which assists designers and builders in meeting the accessibility requirements of the Fair Housing Act.  The manual can be downloaded in PDF form.

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Fair Housing Act Training Materials

Includes an overview of the Fair Housing Act, common design and construction violations and solutions and information about how the Fair Housing Act is enforced.

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Fair Housing Discrimination Complaints

Explains how to file a Fair Housing complaint online, by phone or by letter, and provides the list of U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development offices.

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Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP)

Overview of the Department of Housing and Urban Development's FHIP program, which provides funding to fair housing organizations and other non-profits to assist people who believe they have been victims of housing discrimination.

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Fair Housing Laws & Executive Orders

Summary of fair housing laws, including the Fair Housing Act.

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Frequently Asked Questions about the Fair Housing Accessibility Guidelines

Answers to commonly asked questions about the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Fair Housing Accessibility Guidelines.

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Group Homes, Local Land Use & the Fair Housing Act

Joint statement from the U.S. Departments of Justice and Housing and Urban Development regarding general information on group homes, local land use, the Fair Housing Act and zoning.

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Office of Fair Housing & Equal Opportunity (FHEO) Home Page

Information on fair housing laws and regulations from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity.

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Reasonable Modifications Under the Fair Housing Act

Technical assistance document on the rights and obligations of persons with disabilities and housing providers relating to reasonable modifications under the Fair Housing Act.

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Regulations.gov

Find, review and submit comments on federal documents that are open for comment and published in the Federal Register, the government's legal newspaper.

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Section 109 of the Housing & Community Development Act of 1974

Explains the rights and complaint procedures under Section 109 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, religion and sex within Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) programs or activities.

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Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

Information on Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in programs and activities conducted by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) or that receive financial assistance from HUD.

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Section 504 the Rehabilitation Act Frequently Asked Questions

Answers questions about the practical application of Section 504 to real-world situations.

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Supportive Housing for Persons With Disabilities (Section 811)

Provides funding to developers of housing for disabled, low-income households.

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The Disability Law Lowdown Podcasts

Provides information on disability laws and other subjects available to download and listen to, as well as podcast transcripts to read. Information covered includes the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Air Carrier Access Act, the Ticket to Work program, the Fair Housing Act and other laws and programs that support the rights and independence of people with disabilities. This information is also available in Spanish. Disability Law Lowdown ASL videos are on YouTube.

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The Future of Fair Housing - A Report from the National Commission on Fair Housing & Equal Opportunity

Summary of a December 2008 report from a national, bipartisan fair housing commission that presents findings about the current state of fair housing and recommendations on improvements to be made in the future. This link opens a PDF document.

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The State of Fair Housing - Annual Report on Fair Housing FY 2009

The U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) has released its annual State of Fair Housing Report for 2009. It highlights the agency's progress in enforcing the Fair Housing Act, identifies challenges that remain and shows HUD's commitment to ending housing discrimination. The report covers the last full fiscal year of HUD's complaint investigations and fair housing activities. Discrimination based on a person's disability status continues to be the largest-single category for complaints. Of the 10,242 complaints filed with HUD and its fair housing partners during fiscal year 2009, 44 percent alleged disability discrimination. The complete 133 page report is available in PDF format.

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U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) Notice Reminds Funding Recipients to Comply with Non-Discrimination Laws & Regulations for Persons with Disabilities

HUD's Notice reminds its funding recipients of the importance of maximum compliance with providing accessibility in their programs for persons with disabilities.  The Notice serves as a reminder for all Public Housing Authorities, current and future contractors, as well as agents and housing choice voucher program owners.  This link opens a Word document.

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Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS)

One of two standards (along with the Standards for Accessible Design) for new construction and alterations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for state and local government facilities. In addition to being incorporated into local building codes, they are a good source for univeral design concepts when building or remodeling private homes.

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What Are Your Housing Rights?

Fact sheet from the National Resource Center on Supportive Housing and Home Modification to help tenants with disabilities understand their housing rights.

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