In a study conducted by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the results showed that Hispanics had been targets of unfair practices by housing and mortgage providers when compared to offering those to even less qualified non Hispanic whites.  The Housing Discrimination Study 2000 researched discriminatory trends to measure the extent of housing discrimination in the United States against person because of race or color. 

In addition, the reports shows that Hispanic homebuyers experience difference in treatment with the amount of help agents provide with providing information and obtaining financing. And Hispanic renters face a higher incidence of discrimination than African American renters when seeking housing.

This April is the 40Th Anniversary of the Federal Fair Housing Act that addresses the issues of discrimination. The Law says it is illegal to do any of the following based on race, sex, disability, national origin, religion, color or familial status (children under 18 or pregnant woman). This civil rights Act covers not only rental property, but also the sales of property, vacant land, insurance, financial lending, advertising, and building and design requirements.

The following are violations: - Refuse to Rent or Sell housing. - Say that housing is not available for inspection, rental or sale when it is. - Refuse to make a mortgage loan. - Require different conditions or terms on a loan. - Threaten, pressure or intimidate any individual exercising a fair housing right. - Refuse to make a reasonable changes to the residence to accommodate a disability.

In an effort to carry out the ending of housing discrimination, HUD has funded the Florida Commission on Human Relations to conduct an education and outreach campaign. The Florida Commission on Human Relations has focused their effort targeting large concentration of growing Hispanic areas, like Central Florida, where Ms. Renae Brown is leading this education awareness in reaching the general public and housing providers and to educate them on the federal and Florida Fair Housing Act and the complaint filing process. 

If you believe you have been a victim, you can call, write or visit the Commission, speak to one of the experienced advisors and file a complaint. Once the complaint is reported and filed, an investigation follows to determinate your options.

Ms. Brown encourages those that have been affected to come forward and report it. Its Free! Reporting housing discrimination is the first step to ending it.

Florida Commission on Human Relations, 2009 Apalachee Parkway, Ste. 100, Oakland Bldg, Tallahassee, FL 32301-4857. Tel. 850-488-7082 Fax 850-488-5291. Website: http://fchr.state.fl.us or email "> Esta dirección de email está siendo protegida de \"spam bots\", necesitas habilitar Javascript para poder verla. . For those with communication impairments: Voice (Statewide) 711, TDD ASCII 800-955-1339, TDD Baudot 800-955-8771. If you are a Housing and Mortgage provider, comply with the Law. It is great business practice!








Axel Lopez is an author, speaker, investor, marketing consultant and hispanopreneur. He can be reached in Orlando, Florida at 321-442-8211, email: "> Esta dirección de email está siendo protegida de \"spam bots\", necesitas habilitar Javascript para poder verla. or
website: www.AxelLopez.com
A member of ORRA, NAHREP, IRC, CFRI, CFHCC.