October 2026 - Don't let Fair Housing Spook You!
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Welcome Note
In this month’s edition of your Fair Housing Newsletter we want to emphasize the phrase ‘Knowledge Is Power’. Highlighting outreach efforts centered on educating community members on their rights and protections under the Fair Housing Act (FHA). Additionally celebrating the 1 month mark of our social media Fair Housing Campaign! Not knowing or understanding your rights can be a scary thing and at FLS we don’t want you to be spooked this fall.
Don’t let Fair Housing Spook You!
Did You Know…
Many victims of fair housing discrimination do not report that they did not know where or how to complain, supposed it would cost too much money or take too much time, were too busy, or feared retaliation.
About two-fifths of adults declare they would very likely take action if confronted with housing discrimination.
Survey data reported a higher-than-average level of fair housing awareness among the Hispanic population must extend beyond the survey.
Only 42% of respondents reported that fair housing impacts them or their families.
So What Does It All Mean?
Knowledge is power. Knowing your rights under the Fair Housing Act can protect you and your family. You should never fear retaliation for doing what is right.
Individuals who know their rights should feel empowered to speak up and hold others accountable.
With Hispanic heritage month in mind, it is important that we acknowledge how certain communities can be disproportionately impacted by Fair Housing violations. Awareness of your rights or what discriminatory practices may look like can work as a shield when you know what to look for.
58% shows how much work is needed to continue to educate people about their rights under fair housing laws. The last thing someone would want is to be taken advantage of because they didn’t know their rights.
What Can We Do?
It is time to take education into your own hands but you don’t have to do it alone. You can attend one of our Know Your Rights presentations. Many are held online or in person!
Don’t have time for a presentation follow us on Instagram @FloridaLegalServices for weekly Knowledge Checks, Highlight Reels, and Info you should know!
If you or someone you know is experiencing housing discrimination based on familial status know that is a violation of the Fair Housing Act and we can help! Call our Fair Housing line at 407-801- 4224 or 850-680-1729 for assistance in Spanish.
Want to help your community be informed of their rights? We offer FREE educational presentations that can be given at community centers near you! Email: fairhousing@floridalegal.org
Fair Housing Social Media Takeover
If you aren’t already following us on instagram - what are you waiting for? We are having our first social media campaign and we need your help! Head over to our instagram to check it out. We will be posting regularly on Mondays and Fridays for our Knowledge Check Series. Be sure to follow, and hit the bell so you don’t miss it when we post.
Outreach Calendar
Looking for a chance to get information in person? Want to add us to your event. See our monthly outreach for October below!
Please note our offices will be closed on the following dates this month:
Monday, October 12 - Indigenous Peoples Day / Columbus Day
Above are outreach events that have been confirmed as of publishing this newsletter but we are always looking for ways to connect with the community and add to our outreach calendar. If you are hosting an event or would like to see us table email us fairhousing@floridalegal.org
Our outreach team was all over Florida last month sharing knowledge so you don’t get spooked!
Ask-A-Lawyer in Tri County
In collaboration with the Tri County Community Resource Center who services residents of Levy, Dixie, and Gilchrist Florida we hosted an event to connect individuals with a chance to review a legal issue they were facing with one of our attorneys for FREE. We had a full day of connection and conversation with community members! It is events like these that spotlight how our community lawyering approach works in real life. Special thanks to our friends at Tri County for making this event a success!
Connecting with the Community In Orange County
We tabled at the Mind Your Health Community Resource Fair hosted by the Paramore Community Council. We had an amazing time sharing our Fair Housing resources with attendees. We also got to take part in sharing a little about who we are and what we do during our mic time and got to participate in some moving and grooving activities as well. Be sure to check our highlight reel from this event on our instagram page @floridalegalservice.
Informing Future Tenants In Alachua County
As many College students start to step into their independence it is important that they are equipped with the proper tools to do so. One of those tools is knowing their Fair Housing Rights when applying for housing. We shared informational materials with the student body of Sante Fe College in Gainesville, FL at their Community Resource and Safety Event.
Informing New Families in Levy County
We tabled at the World’s Greatest Babyshower Event hosted by Tri County Partnership for Stronger Families. Here we provided information to new and expecting families on their Fair Housing rights regarding Familial Status to a record attendance of 200+ people.
In case you were keeping track, that is almost 800 miles covered in outreach travel in September!
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 FACING EVICTION CONCERNS PLEASE CONTACT OUR EVICTION PREVENTION TEAM AT:
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.