Fair Housing Resources

Federal Laws

Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, commonly known as the Fair Housing Act, requires the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and recipients of federal funds from HUD to affirmatively further the policies and requirements of the act. The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), familial status, and disability by landlords, property managers, and other housing providers as well as municipalities, lending institutions, and insurance companies. The Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 revised the original Fair Housing Act of 1968 to broaden protections from discrimination to families with children and to persons with physical or mental disabilities. Under the Amended Act, builders of housing must also ensure accessibility in certain units and landlords and condominium associations must make reasonable accommodations to meet the needs of disabled tenants.

State Laws

The Fair Employment and Housing Act, the Family Rights Act, the Unruh Civil Rights Act, and other California laws prohibit discrimination in housing due to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, disability, age, ancestry, citizenship, gender (identity and expression), genetic information, immigration status, marital status, primary language, sexual orientation, source of income, and any other arbitrary reason. More information about the different state laws addressing discrimination can be found here:  https://calcivilrights.ca.gov/LegalRecords/

As a recipient of federal and state entitlement grant programs, Sonoma County is required to take meaningful actions to combat discrimination, overcome patterns of segregation, and foster inclusivity in the community by removing barriers that restrict access to opportunity based on the aforementioned characteristics.

In accordance with HUD and state laws, including, AB686, Sonoma County is committed to taking actions to advance equality and equity in access to housing and services by all community members. To learn about what Sonoma County is doing to address segregation and discrimination and affirmatively further fair housing, the following resources are available for more information:

Sonoma County Housing Element

In the Summer of 2020, the Board of Supervisors created the Office of Equity with a goal to address equity disparities in the community and in the way the county conducts business. Visit the office website to learn more about what the county is doing to make change.

Office of Equity

Legal Resources

If you have experienced discrimination in housing and/or access to services and need legal advice, the following service providers may be able to assist you:

Fair Housing Advocates of Northern California

Legal Aid of Sonoma County

Disability Services and Legal Center

California Rural Legal Assistance

How to File a Complaint

If you have experienced discrimination on the basis of a disability, race, national original, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, and or familial status, in any program or activity administered by the Sonoma County Community Development Commission, including the Sonoma County Housing Authority, and would like to file a complaint, you can do so in one of three ways:

1. Contact Veronica Ortiz-De Anda at the Commission by calling 707-565-7520 or email your complaint to OrtizDeAnda@sonoma-county.org.

You can also make your complaint in person by visiting the Commission office between the hours of 8am-5pm, Monday through Friday or mail it to:

Santa Rosa, CA 95401

Please note:  Complaints can be made anonymously. If you wish to remain anonymous, please indicate this in your complaint.

Information to include in the complaint:

• Describe the nature of the complaint and provide specific details and dates, if possible, as well as the names of all persons involved.
• If there were witnesses, please indicate this and provide their names, if possible.
• If the complaint is being delivered, emailed, or mailed please provide relevant documentation, if possible.

The Commission will contact you with a status update and or decision within 10 business days. If you do not hear back from the Commission during this timeframe, please contact Veronica Ortiz-De Anda at the contact number listed above.

Appeals:  If you already went through the complaint process and would like to appeal the decision made, you can make your request to appeal to the same contact as indicated above. In the request, please include information and or documentation on the decision that was made and why you would like to appeal the decision. If the request is being emailed, dropped off, or mailed, please indicate how you would like to be contacted and provide your contact information. The Commission will contact you within 10 business days of receiving the appeal request.

2. Submit your complaint to: California Department of Civil Rights

3. Submit your complaint to: S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

If you have already filed a complaint with the Commission or California Department of Civil Rights and were dissatisfied with the outcome of your complaint (or outcome of the appeal) or there is lack of progress, you can submit your complaint directly to HUD.

Other Resources and Policies

Sonoma County Housing Authority

City of Santa Rosa Housing Authority

California Department of Civil Rights

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development – Fair Housing

24 CFR Part 103 – Fair Housing Complaint Processing with HUD

California Department of Housing and Community Development

California Attorney General – Landlord & Tenant Issues Website

Not a lower income household and need legal advice? Visit the Sonoma County Bar Association website.