What We Do
The Fair Housing Center challenges illegal discrimination through:
TRAINING: Our extensive expertise in the
complexity of fair housing laws and practices makes the FHCGB
a respected source of fair housing training. We provide
training to housing associations, public agencies, realtors,
and housing search professionals.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH: Discriminatory housing
practices affect us all, limiting our experiences and
affecting the region’s economic well-being. The FHCGB promotes
tools to prevent and respond to discrimination and guides
local advocates in activities designed to make all of our
communities welcoming places to live.
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TESTING: The FHCGB is the region’s
sole source of housing discrimination testing. Testing
provides a credible picture of how and if discrimination
occurs using a controlled method of documenting variations in
the treatment of home seekers by housing providers.
CASE ADVOCACY: The FHCGB fields
hundreds of inquires annually from people who do not have the
knowledge and/or means to advocate for themselves. We provide
full case advocacy, including testing for proof of
discrimination, representing complainants throughout HUD’s or
Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination’s (MCAD’s)
processes, and securing pro bono legal counsel if litigation
is required.
PUBLIC POLICY ADVOCACY: The FHCGB collaborates with other
housing, legal, civil rights, and community organizations to
add fair housing expertise and promote equity in policy
debates. We advocate for strong local, state, and federal
housing laws and policies and work to ensure their effective
implementation.
HOUSING COUNSELING: The housing counseling program provides troubled borrowers with loan reinstatement assistance, including negotiating with lenders and the filing of fair lending complaints if discrimination is alleged. The program also offers classes in fair lending, predatory lending, and first time home buying.
RESEARCH: To inform our advocacy, the FHCGB researches and documents the nature and
extent of housing discrimination — including the fair housing
impacts of public policies — both on our own and with area
universities.