June 2026 - Celebrating Homeownership Month: Advancing Access to Housing Stability
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Welcome Note
In recognition of National Homeownership Month, we want to shed light on the importance of housing stability and access to safe, fair, and equitable homeownership opportunities. This month, we highlight Fair Housing rights related to purchasing and maintaining a home, including protections involving lenders, realtors, and homeowners associations (HOAs), and how these rights help ensure equal access to housing opportunities for all.
Celebrating Homeownership Month:
Advancing Access to Housing Stability
Did You Know…
The Fair Housing Act protects individuals from discrimination in many aspects of housing, including buying a home, applying for a mortgage loan, working with a realtor, or interacting with Home Owner’s Association.
The Fair Housing Act makes it illegal to discriminate against homeowners or homebuyers based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, or familial status.
Lenders cannot deny loans, charge higher interest rates, or impose different loan terms based on a person's protected characteristics.
Insurance providers cannot refuse coverage, charge unfair rates, or offer different terms because of a homeowner's race, ethnicity, or other protected status.
So What Does It All Mean?
Fair Housing protections help ensure that everyone has equal access to housing opportunities and cannot be unfairly denied housing, loans, insurance, or equal treatment during the homebuying process.
These protections also apply after purchasing a home, including issues involving accessibility, discriminatory HOA practices, or unequal treatment by housing providers and lenders.
The Fair Housing Act also helps protect homeowners during the appraisal process by prohibiting discrimination that could result in unfair or undervalued property appraisals based on a person's race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, or familial status.
Homeowners who experience housing discrimination can file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and may be entitled to investigations, mediation, or legal action to address violations.
What Can We Do?
Knowing your rights is one of the most important tools in preventing housing discrimination. If you believe you have experienced discrimination related to homeownership, lending, or housing access, Florida Legal Services is here to help.
If you or someone you know is facing discrimination on the basis of a protected class, or needs legal assistance navigating housing related issues, do not hesitate to give us a call at 407-801-4224 or email us at fairhousing@floridalegal.org.
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!
With a new grant, our Eviction Prevention team is expanding legal services into Bradford, Martin, St. Lucie, and Union counties, allowing us to provide increased support and resources to tenants facing housing instability and strengthen eviction prevention efforts across Florida.
We also utilize language line services for tenants with diverse linguistic backgrounds.
Community Outreach
Upcoming Outreach Events
What We’ve Been Up To
GHA Community Conversation at GACAR re: HUD's Proposed Rule
Florida Legal Services was grateful for the opportunity to attend the Gainesville Housing Authority’s Community Conversations on HUD Proposed Rule Discussions. Our team connected with community members, shared information about FLS housing-related services, and participated in important conversations about proposed HUD changes and their potential impact on residents. Thank you to the Gainesville Housing Authority for hosting this meaningful community event.
Spring Community Resource Expo
We were honored to attend the Spring Resource Fair in Bunnell, where community members had access to essential services, including food assistance, free haircuts, and valuable community resource information. We are grateful to Flagler County’s Health and Human Services Department for continually including us in these meaningful events and for their ongoing commitment to supporting and strengthening our community.
Disaster Preparedness & Community Resource Expo
Florida Legal Services was grateful for the opportunity to table at the Disaster Preparedness & Community Resource Expo. Our team connected and networked with community partner organizations across Levy and Gilchrist Counties while sharing information and resources about FLS projects and free legal services available to the community. Thank you to the Gilchrist Prevention Team for inviting us to participate in this event.
Re-Entry Library Partnership Tabling
As part of the Re-Entry Library Partnership’s annual job and community resource fair, Florida Legal Services was invited to table and share information about the free legal services and resources available through our various FLS projects. The event provided an opportunity to connect with community members and individuals impacted by the justice system while helping raise awareness about supportive services and community-based resources available to assist with successful re-entry and stability.
North Central Florida Red Cross Community Open House
Florida Legal Services would like to thank the North Central Florida Red Cross and Joni Perkins for inviting our team to participate in the Community Open House. We appreciated the opportunity to present on FLS services and share more about the free legal resources and support we offer to communities across Florida. We look forward to continuing to grow this partnership and collaborating on future community outreach efforts.
Osceola County Veteran’s Resource Fair
Florida Legal Services would like to extend a sincere thank you to the Hart Memorial Central Library for inviting our team to participate in the Osceola County Veteran’s Resource Fair. We appreciated the opportunity to connect with veterans and community members, share information about our free legal services and projects, and provide resources related to housing, eviction prevention, veterans advocacy, and other supportive programs available through FLS. We are grateful for the library’s continued commitment to serving and uplifting the community.
Healthy Afternoons with Fire Rescue - Be Kind to Your Mind
Florida Legal Services was grateful for the opportunity to participate in Healthy Afternoons with Fire Rescue. It was a great opportunity to network with community partners, connect with attendees, and spread awareness about the free legal services and resources available through FLS projects. We appreciate everyone who spoke to us during such a hot day outside. We look forward to continuing to support community wellness and outreach efforts.
Family Eviction & Housing Stability Listening Session
Florida Legal Services was grateful for the opportunity to participate in the Family Eviction & Housing Stability Listening Session. During the event, we connected with community partners, raised awareness about our housing stability and eviction prevention work, and shared some of the biggest barriers to stable housing that we continue to see impacting our clients. Discussions focused on increasing rental assistance funding, strengthening community support systems, and better equipping partner organizations to connect individuals and families with FLS services and resources.
Eviction Prevention in Alachua, Brevard, Citrus, Dixie, Flagler, Gilchrist, Indian River, Lake, Levy, Marion, Orange, Osceola, Putnam, Seminole, St. Johns, Sumter, and Volusia County: with expansion counties including Bradford, Martin, St. Lucie, and Union.
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.