Fair Housing Center for Rights & Research

06/12/2026

Fathers play an important role in their kids' lives. Today, we’re sharing resources at the Cuyahoga County Fatherhood Initiative's 20th Annual Cuyahoga County Fatherhood Conference to let fathers know that they have fair housing rights. Because being a parent is hard enough — housing discrimination shouldn't make your job any more difficult.

Fathers (and all families with children) are explicitly protected from housing discrimination under the familial status protection, which makes it illegal to refuse to provide housing to someone because they have kids in the home. This protection applies to parents, custodians, legal designees, and anyone who is pregnant or in the process of securing custody of children, including foster and adoptive families.

Think your fair housing rights have been violated? Reach out to our advocates for assistance.

06/11/2026

If you are interested in learning more about your rights under fair housing law, register to attend this free fair housing training, presented by the Fair Housing Center for Rights & Research and the City of Cleveland Heights, Ohio - City Hall.

Event Details:
🗓️ Thursday, June 25, 2026
⏰ 5:30PM - 7:30PM
📍 Noble Neighborhood Branch, Heights Libraries (2800 Noble Rd., Cleveland Heights, OH 44121)

👉 To register, visit thehousingcenter.org/events, or call (216) 306-2539. Registration is free but required. All attendees will be entered into a raffle for a chance to win a $25 Giant Eagle gift card!

06/10/2026

This week, we're listening to Southern Poverty Law Center's "Apathy is Not an Option" podcast episode on fair housing in America. Host Alex Beightol is joined by Teresa Fox-Bettis, a regional fair housing expert based in the Gulf Coast, and Richard Rothstein, a nationally recognized housing scholar and author, to examine the legacy of redlining and what true accountability looks like today. This conversation challenges us to confront how policy shaped inequality — and what it will take to change it.

Visit https://splcenter.org/apathy-not-option-podcast to listen to Episode 16, "Fair Housing in America: From Redlining to Accountability."

06/09/2026

If you are interested in learning more about your rights and responsibilities under fair housing law, register to attend this free upcoming Fair Housing Law Training, presented by the Fair Housing Center for Rights & Research and sponsored by Cuyahoga County.

Event Details:
🗓️ Tuesday, June 30, 2026
⏰ 5PM - 7PM
📍 Parma Heights City Hall, City Hall Chambers Room (6281 Pearl Rd., Parma Heights, OH 44130)

👉 To register, please visit thehousingcenter.org/events or call (216) 361-9240.

06/08/2026

For the first time in decades, The Fair Housing Center does not have federal funding to assist residents in all communities throughout our service area with complaints of housing discrimination. While we hope this gap is only temporary, we are currently unable to provide individual assistance with fair housing complaints and inquiries in communities where we do not have local funding. As of 6/1/26, we lack funding to assist with complaints of discrimination in the cities of Cleveland, East Cleveland, Elyria and Lorain. If you have experienced housing discrimination in one of these cities, please reach out to your city's designated contact person to request assistance.

We encourage you to check back with us in the coming months as we continue to seek funding to resume serving members of all communities throughout Cuyahoga & Lorain Counties. Thank you for your understanding.

06/05/2026

Historical and present-day structural factors have contributed to a housing environment in which low-income Black women renters are particularly vulnerable to sexual harassment. A recent brief from The Legal Defense Fund seeks to shine a light on the often-ignored problem of housing sexual harassment, with a focus on the unique vulnerabilities of low-income Black women renters.

Housing sexual harassment is an insidious problem that has largely been overlooked, likely because it is severely underreported and often targets low-income Black women renters who are forced to choose between harassment and homelessness.

06/04/2026

Did you know that it is illegal for a housing provider to ask questions about the nature or extent of your disability? While a housing provider can ask you to provide a verification letter if you are requesting a reasonable accommodation or modification, they can never require you to disclose your diagnosis, ask for your medical records, or ask personal questions about your disability.

Have questions about your rights? We're happy to help!

📞(216) 361-9240
📧 [email protected]

06/03/2026

"It is hard to argue that housing is not a fundamental human need. Decent, affordable housing should be a basic right for everybody in this country. The reason is simple: without stable shelter, everything else falls apart." - Matthew Desmond, author of Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City

06/02/2026

📣 SAVE THE DATE: On Wednesday, July 15th at 12PM, join us for a virtual discussion of the current Source of Income (SOI) legal landscape and its effects on housing access.

We will highlight the growing number of municipalities that have adopted local SOI protections in response to persistent barriers in the rental market. Our esteemed panel will explore recent constitutional challenges to SOI protections and how municipalities and courts have been addressing those challenges. 2.0 CLE credits will be available. Registration info coming soon!

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