November 2025 - Fair Housing and the Holidays
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Welcome Note
This month, we’re highlighting housing issues that become especially common during the holiday season. While November and December are often filled with celebration, they can also bring added stress for individuals and families facing housing instability. It’s important to remember that our housing rights remain the same year-round—and sharing this information can make a meaningful difference for someone who may be struggling. Let’s take a closer look at how the holidays can impact someone’s housing and why awareness of Fair Housing and eviction protections are vital.
Fair Housing and the Holidays
Did You Know…
The holiday season is one of the most common times for informal—and sometimes unlawful—eviction attempts. Many tenants mistakenly believe that evictions cannot occur during November and December, which can leave them feeling pressured to move out without receiving the proper legal notices. In reality, landlords may still file and serve eviction notices during the holiday months, and all standard legal procedures remain in effect.
The Fair Housing Act includes protections against religious discrimination, which can become especially relevant during the holiday season. For example, if some residents are allowed to display holiday decorations that reflect their beliefs while others are instructed to remove theirs, this difference in treatment may constitute religious discrimination under the federal Fair Housing Act.
Winter also brings higher utility costs and, in some cases, the risk of shutoffs. Seasonal expenses, medical needs, or fluctuating employment can make it harder for families to keep up with bills. It is important to remember that a lawful eviction process must still be followed, and intentionally shutting off utilities to force a tenant out may be considered an unlawful—and unsafe—practice.
So What Does It All Mean?
According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, every year in the U.S., roughly 2.7 million households receive eviction filings, on average. Among the people threatened with eviction annually, about 2.9 million are children under 18. Meaning that evictions during the holidays often don't just impact adults — it displaces entire families, and children are faced with housing instability right when they should be safe and secure.
Along with protections against religious discrimination, the Fair Housing Act also prohibits discrimination against families with children, meaning landlords cannot treat households differently, impose stricter rules, or attempt to pressure them out simply because minors live in the home. This is especially important to remember during the holiday seasons when children might be spending more time at home during breaks from school.
Additionally, housing providers must apply rules consistently and cannot target families with children for earlier move-outs, stricter notices, restricted access to amenities, or limitations on holiday activities that are permitted for other tenants.
What Can We Do?
Sometimes evictions seem to happen quietly — without proper notice or during stressful times like the holidays, when tenants may be less able to respond promptly. Tenants should be aware that their rights apply year-round. Knowing eviction procedures and recognizing unfair or unlawful eviction attempts can help tenants protect themselves — and, when possible, avoid displacement during vulnerable times.
Be aware that if you were served with an eviction notice, you can call our Eviction Prevention helpline for FREE legal assistance. Call us today at 888-780-0443!
We utilize language line services for tenants with diverse linguistic backgrounds.
If you or someone you know is facing discrimination, do not hesitate to give us a call at 407-801-4224 or email us at fairhousing@floridalegal.org
Community Outreach
Upcoming Outreach Events
What We’ve Been Up To
Flagler County Fall Resource Festival
We were grateful to participate in several Fall Festivals this month, including an event in Flagler County where we had the opportunity to share resources with community members as they received useful information and free food ahead of the holiday season.
Gainesville Outreach Event
We are always glad to connect with the Gainesville community and participate in outreach events that help residents learn about available resources. This month, we had the opportunity to share information about our Fair Housing Project, Veteran Justice Project, and our Survivor Advocacy Project.
Community Day of Caring
The Nehemiah Project hosted their first-ever Community Day of Caring, featuring a clothing closet, a free hot Thanksgiving-style meal, and a variety of resources for attendees to access. We were thrilled to be part of this inaugural event and hope it becomes an annual tradition. Thank you to the Nehemiah Project for including us in such a meaningful community initiative!
Empowerment Zone Fall Festival
The Gainesville Empowerment Zone also hosted a Fall Festival, bringing together parents, students, and community members to celebrate the holiday season. With numerous community resources and vendors in attendance, we enjoyed connecting with other organizations, playing games, and building relationships that could lead to future partnerships.
Gainesville Opportunity Center Fall Festival
Marissa Latimer attended the Gainesville Opportunity Center’s Fall Festival, where community members had the chance to win raffles while learning about various resources and connecting with local community partners. It was a wonderful event with amazing food and a great sense of camaraderie, and we were glad to be part of it.
HealthStreet UF and One Community Resource Center
Our Fair Housing and Eviction Prevention Outreach Coordinators, Lola and Marissa, participated in several tabling events this month. One event was a health fair hosted by HealthStreet at UF, where attendees had the opportunity to receive health screenings while learning about available resources. Another took place at the One Community Center, which provides food, clothing, and weekly classes designed to engage and support the community. These events offered a valuable opportunity to connect with residents and share important information about the resources available to them.
Eviction Prevention in Alachua, Brevard, Dixie, Flagler, Gilchrist, Indian River, Lake, Levy, Marion, Orange, Putnam, Seminole, St. Johns, Sumter, and Volusia County:
Eviction Prevention Helpline - CALL: 888-780-0443
This helpline supports tenants, in the counties above, facing eviction or other housing-related challenges. Our operators are available to take calls about landlord-tenant disputes, housing authority voucher issues, and other housing concerns impacting low-income renters. Callers will be connected with an attorney who can provide legal advice over the phone and, in some cases, direct legal representation. Call us today to get the help you need!
The federal Fair Housing Act (FHA) protects you from discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, and familial status. This applies to renting, buying, mortgages, appraisals, insurance, and looking for a place to live.
IF YOU THINK YOU’VE BEEN THE VICTIM OF HOUSING DISCRIMINATION, PLEASE CONTACT US AT:
407-801- 4224 (English)
850-680-1729 (Spanish)
fairhousing@floridalegal.org
www.floridalegal.org/fairhousing
IF YOU ARE AN ALACHUA COUNTY RESIDENT FACING BARRIERS TO HOUSING OR AN EVICTION, PLEASE CALL AND FOLLOW THE PROMPTS TO REACH A LIVE ALACHUA COUNTY OPERATOR:
888-780-0443 (English and Spanish)
www.floridalegal.org/evictionprevention
The work that provided the basis for this publication was supported by funding under a grant with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The author and publisher are solely responsible for the accuracy of the statements and interpretations contained in this publication. Such interpretations do not necessarily reflect the views of the Federal Government.