New Translated Materials Available
Educational materials on fair housing, landlord-tenant laws, and landlord-tenant mediation services translated or interpreted in up to nine languages spoken in Vermont are now available. These languages include Arabic, Burmese, French, Nepali, Spanish, Somali, Swahili, and Vietnamese. These resources can be found here.
Fair Housing is the right to equal opportunity in the rental, sale, and financing of housing under federal, state and local laws.
The Federal Fair Housing Act was part of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, making it illegal to discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, and sex. In 1988, Congress added familial status and disability to the categories protected under that law. Vermont's Fair Housing Act is similar to federal law with six additional protected categories: marital status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, receipt of public assistance, and victims of abuse.
Housing Discrimination in Vermont
Every five year's the State conducts an Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing (AI) to identify barriers to fair housing choice in Vermont and recommend actions to overcome them. A comprehensive analysis was completed in 2012 and updated in 2017. In November 2022, DHCD published an update on the state's progress toward the actions described in the 2017 AI.
In 2014, Vermont Legal Aid released a report on Housing Discrimination in Vermont Rental Markets which found generally disfavored African American renters, renters of foreign origin, renters with children, and renters with disabilities, while preferential treatment was given to White renters of U.S. origin without children or apparent disabilities.
Fair Housing Month
Each April we mark the anniversary of the Federal Fair Housing Act which passed in April 1968 by designating April as Fair Housing Month in Vermont.
Read Governor Philip B. Scott's 2024 Vermont Fair Housing Month Proclamation
Housing and Communities Show: 2014 broadcast with then Vermont HUD Field Officer Mike McNamara, and Karen Richards and Rachel Batterson from Vermont Legal Aid discussing the Fair Housing Act and Fair Housing Month following a screening of the film "A Matter of Place" on CCTV.
Vermont Affordable Housing Show: 2014 broadcast with Ted Wimpey and Erhard Mahnke of the Vermont Affordable Housing Coalition discussing Fair Housing on CCTV.
Resources
Fair Housing Project
The CVOEO Fair Housing Project (FHP) works to eradicate housing discrimination in Vermont through education, outreach and enforcement of fair housing laws. The FHP has conducted several studies funded by HUD on fair housing rental and sales practices in Vermont. The FHP advocates for victims of discrimination and conducts screening to help determine whether or not a case has merit and makes appropriate referrals to enforcement agencies. In addition, the FHP has created public awareness campaigns including bus advertisements, radio and televised public service announcements, and educational trainings.
Vermont Human Rights Commission
Vermont Human Rights Commission enforces a number of anti-discrimination laws including the Fair Housing and Public Accommodations Act, and Fair Employment Practices Act (when the employer is a State agency). The Human Rights Commission can be reached at 1-800-416-2010.
The Housing Discrimination Law Project
Vermont Legal Aid, Inc. conducts fair housing testing; investigates housing discrimination complaints; represents individuals and groups in housing discrimination cases; conducts fair housing training and education; and advocates for inclusive, sustainable communities. It also makes referrals to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Vermont Human Rights Commission. For more information about fair housing law, visit Vermont Law Help or call 1-800-889-2047.
Vermont Center for Independent Living
VCIL's mission is to empower Vermonters with disabilities, deaf Vermonters, and others to tear down the physical, communication, and attitudinal barriers that keep us from realizing our full human potential.
Know Your Rights!
"Assistance Animals in Rental Units" - This details the rights of people with disabilities to have assistance animals.
"Mobile Home Parks and Vermont's Fair Housing and Public Accommodations Act" - This document explain the rights of the elderly and people with disabilities in mobile home parks.