Interfaith Housing Center of the Northern Suburbs

Fair housing means...
you may freely choose a place to live without regard to your race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or because you are disabled or have children in your family. In Illinois, you are also protected on the basis of age, marital status, ancestry or military discharge status. Cook County residents are additionally protected on the basis of sexual orientation, source of income, or housing status.

Housing discrimination is against the law.

Why Fight Housing Discrimination?

Housing discrimination strikes at the heart of the American Dream--the right to live in the home of your choice. Discrimination has devastating consequences for individuals, communities, and our entire nation. If someone discriminates against you, they will discriminate against others and against our children. We need to take a stand to say enough.

When to contact Interfaith?

Today, housing discrimination has become more subtle. It is often disguised with a smile and a handshake instead of a slammed door. The result is still discrimination. The Interfaith Housing Center of the Northern Suburbs can investigate your claim and determine if discrimination has occurred in your housing search.

Examples of illegal housing practices include:

Denial of or lying about the availability of housing, home loans, or home insurance

Steering you to another community

Race-based appraisals

Constructing inaccessible buildings

Saying "no children allowed"

Offering different terms or conditions based on one of the protected classes

Being told the apartment is too small for your family, or that you need a larger apartment contrary to local zoning laws

Being told that mostly "professionals" live here or that they do not have a play area

If you feel you are being treated unfairly in one of the northern suburbs of Chicago, take the following steps:

Call the Interfaith Housing Center of the Northern Suburbs, 847/501-5760 (voice); 847/501-2741 (TTY)

Document, in writing, meetings and phone calls with landlords, property managers, real estate agents, loan officers, and insurance agents

Keep detailed records as to what was said and the outcome

Save all receipts, copies of applications, business cards, and other documents

Don't delay if you are considering filing a complaint: there are time limits of 180 days to one year, depending on the jurisdiction.

How Interfaith Can Help

Interfaith Housing will help you investigate your case. We evaluate your situation and inform you of your rights and options. When appropriate, the Interfaith Housing Center will:

Investigate or test your claim of housing discrimination
Assist you with the filing of a fair housing complaint
Help conciliate your case with the offending party
Refer your case to attorneys that are experts in fair housing litigation

This service is free. Donations are welcome.

Find Out If You Have Been a Victim of Predatory Lending.

Interfaith's fair housing efforts have been featured in the news media. See Interfaith in the News.

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