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Harris County Housing and Community Development
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Programs
    • Leadership Team
    • Work With Us
    • Public Records Request
    • News & Events
    • Contact Us
  • Residents
    • Housing Stabilization Programs
    • Homeownership Programs
      • Down Payment Assistance
    • Home Repair Program
    • Single-Family Reconstruction Program
    • Disaster Recovery
    • Legal Services
      • Eviction Defense Program
      • Immigration Legal Services
    • Bereavement Services
    • Transit Services
    • Fair Housing
      • Tenant Protection
  • Community Partners
    • Stewardship and Performance
    • Infrastructure Investments
    • Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO)
    • Housing Tax Credit Resolution
  • Businesses
    • Harris County Redevelopment Authority
    • Harris County Housing Finance Corporation
    • Harris County Community Land Trust
  • Governance
    • Plans and Reports
    • Fair Housing
  • Maps
  • Bids and Public Notices

Fair
Housing

Are You A Victim of Housing Discrimination?

The Federal Fair Housing Act prohibits housing discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, and familial status (i.e., presence of children in the household). The Fair Housing Act does not specifically include sexual orientation and gender identity as prohibited biases. However, a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or questioning (LGBTQ) person who believes they have experienced housing

discrimination may still be covered by the Fair Housing Act. In addition, housing providers receiving HUD funding have loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), and lenders insured by FHA may be subject to HUD program regulations intended to ensure equal access for LGBTQ persons.

Submitting a Complaint

  • File A Discrimination Complaint with the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) at (800) 669-9777 or visit U.S Department of Housing & Urban Development .

    If you feel you have experienced discrimination in the purchase or rental of your home, report it to these agencies:

    • Harris County Housing & Community Development
      832-927-4995
    • City of Houston, Dept. of Housing &
      Community Development

      832-394-6200
    • Greater Houston Fair Housing Center
      713-641-3247
    • Houston Apartment Association
      281-933-2224


    • Houston Center for Independent Living
      713-974-4621
    • State Bar of Texas
      800-204-2222
    • Know Your Rights as a Tenant
      713-982-1985
    • Texas Workforce – Civil Rights Division
      888-452-4778

    Harris County Tenant Protection Policy

    Did you know that any housing development, redevelopment, or renovation project that received Harris County funds now provides tenant protections outlined in the Harris County Tenant Protection Policy?


    The policy includes protections for the following, but not limited to:

    • Evictions
    • Notices regarding evictions
    • Payment plans
    • Information regarding public assistance
    • Tenant representation
    • Tenant screening and anti-discrimination
    • Property condition
    • Tenant relocation
    • Access to tenant protection information
    • Tenant rights regarding retaliation and trials
    • Enforcement 
    • Policy implementation

    View Tenant Protection Policy Guidelines
    Tenant Protection Policy Guidelines (Español)
    Tenant Protection Policy Guidelines (中文)
    Tenant Protection Policy Guidelines (Tiếng Việt)

    Housing Choice Voucher Program

    (Formerly Section 8)

    The Housing Choice Voucher Program (formerly Section 8) is a federally funded assistance program that offers subsidized housing options in the private market to low-income individuals, families, seniors, and persons with disabilities. The program funding is supplied by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Voucher holders generally pay 30 to 40 percent of their annual income for rent. Individuals are free to choose any housing that meets the requirements.

    Local Housing Authorities are listed below.

    Harris County Housing Authority
    Baytown Housing Authority
    Houston Housing Authority
    Pasadena Housing Authority

    Public Housing

    Public housing is a program for eligible low-income families, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities. If you live in a public housing apartment, you are still required to pay rent. However, the less money you earn, the lower your rent will be. Public housing is considered truly affordable housing, but due to the limited availability, it can take a significant amount of time for a vacancy to become available. Once you have established residency in public housing, you may retain your accommodation unless:

    • Rent payments are not made promptly.

    • Regulations and guidelines are violated; or

    • Your income increases sufficiently to support private market housing.

    832-927-4955

    1111 Fannin St., 9th Floor
    Houston, TX 77002

    [email protected]
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