I feel I am being discriminated against access to housing because of my mental illness. What are my rights?

If you feel that you have been discriminated against or denied an opportunity to secure housing because you live with a mental health condition, there are a few legal options you may wish to pursue:

The HUD Office of Fair Housing & Equal Opportunity provides resources and information to eliminate housing discrimination and promote equal housing opportunities for all. Visit their Report Housing Discrimination webpage to get started on the process of filing a complaint. The website describes what information should be included in the report and provides instructions for filing the report online, by mail, or by phone (800) 669-9777.
The National Fair Housing Alliance works to eliminate housing discrimination and ensure equitable housing opportunities for all people and communities. Their website offers fair housing resources, reports, and news about recent fair housing developments. Their “Find help” website feature can help you locate fair housing organizations in your area.
SAMHSA’s Homeless & Housing Resource Center has a Fair Housing Protections for People with Serious Mental Illness, Substance Use Disorder, and Co-occurring Disorders fact sheet which provides an overview of fair housing law and protections for people with disabilities, information about how to identify when you may be experiencing housing discrimination, how to make reasonable requests for living accommodations or modifications, and what to do if you think you are experiencing housing discrimination.

If you are having trouble applying for federal benefits or getting assistance from a federal agency, you can reach out to your members of Congress for help. More information about how to do that can be found here.

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