Fair Housing & MaineHousing

General Fair Housing Information

Federal and state laws give you a right to fair housing. This means you have the right to be free from discrimination in the sale, rental, advertising or financing of housing. According to fair housing laws, you cannot be discriminated against because of race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, familial status, or receipt of public assistance. 

Discrimination means any action, omission or decision that results in restricting your choice of housing and access to housing assistance.

• Learn more about state fair housing and equal access laws from the Maine Human Rights Commission . They are the state agency responsible for enforcing Maine’s fair housing laws.
• Learn more about federal fair housing and equal access laws from the  Office of Fair Housing & Equal Opportunity  at the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development. They are the federal agency responsible for enforcing federal fair housing laws.

Disability Rights

Federal and state laws provide certain rights and protections for people with disabilities, including people with mental and physical disabilities. This means you cannot be discriminated against because of your disability. The laws also require housing providers to make reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities in policies, procedures and programs. The laws also require housing providers to allow people with disabilities to make reasonable changes so they can fully enjoy their housing and related facilities. The laws also require multifamily housing to be designed and constructed to comply with certain accessibility standards.

• Learn more about Maine’s disability rights laws and accessibility standards from the Maine Human Rights Commission. 
  
  
• Learn more about federal disability rights laws and accessibility standards.
• Federal Fair Housing Act  relating to all housing and programs
  
  
• Architectural Barriers Act of 1968  relating to federally-assisted housing and programs
  
  
• Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973  relating to federally-assisted housing and programs
  
  
• Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the U.S. Department of Justice’s ADA  and a list of ADA publications  
  
  
• Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 relating to programs, services and activities provided or made possible by State and local governments –summary of Title II requirements .
  
  
• Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 relating to public accommodations – for a summary of Title III requirements .
• Learn more about reasonable modifications 
  
  
• Learn more about reasonable accommodations 
  
  
• For more information and resources
• For consumer guides to disability rights laws prepared by the United States Department of Justice  and prepared by Disability Rights Center of Maine .
  
  
• For the Federal government’s website  on disability-related information and resources
  
  
• For the State’s website  on disability-related information and resources
  
  
• For Alpha One’s  website
  
  
• For Access Maine’s   website
  
  
• For Disability Rights Center of Maine’s  website

Limited English Proficiency

Federal law requires organizations that get federal funds to make reasonable efforts to give translation help to people who do not speak or read English well. This helps make sure people who don’t speak or read English well can get what they need from programs and services. This is for people who do not speak English as their primary language. It also is for people who do not speak, read, write or understand English well.

• Learn more about Federal LEP requirements 

To File a Complaint

• Learn more about the State’s fair housing complaint process 
• Learn more about HUD’s fair housing complaint process 
• Learn more about the ADA Title II complaint process for discrimination against persons with disabilities relating to State and local government services and assistance see the complaint form .
• Learn more about the ADA Title III complaint process  for discrimination against persons with disabilities relating to public accommodations

Advocacy Groups and Legal Resources

• Pine Tree Legal Assistance 
  • Augusta, 39 Green Street
    Tel: 207-622-4731 or 207-623-7777 or 207-623-7770 (TTY)
  • Bangor, 61 Main Street
    Tel: 207-942-8241 or 207-942-1060 (TTY)
  • Lewiston, 37 Park Street, Suite 401
    Tel: 207-784-1558
  • Machias, Route 1 and Old County Road
    Tel: 207-255-8656 or 207-255-6179 (TTY)
  • Portland, 88 Federal Street
    Tel: 207-774-8211 or 207-828-2308 (TTY)
  • Presque Isle, 373 Main Street
    Tel: 207-764-4349 or 207-764-2453 (TTY)
  • Farmworker & Native American Units - Bangor
    Tel: 207-942-0673
  • Multi-lingual Language Line
    Tel: 207-774-8211
• Maine Volunteer Lawyers Project 
  Tel: 1-800-442-4293
• Maine Equal Justice Project 
  Tel: 207-626-7058
• Disability Rights Center 
  Statewide Hotline, Tel. 1-800-452-1948 (V/TTY)
• For information about other advocacy groups in Maine 

Fair Housing Training for Partners
MaineHousing is offering a free Understanding of Fair Housing training program. This program is on demand and self-paced. It is available through our online learning portal.

Training Registration

MaineHousing Nondiscrimination Policy
MaineHousing does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, age, familial status or receipt of public assistance in the admission or access to or treatment in its programs and activities. In employment, MaineHousing does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability or genetic information. MaineHousing will provide appropriate communication auxiliary aids and services upon sufficient notice. MaineHousing will also provide this document in alternative formats upon sufficient notice. MaineHousing has designated the following person responsible for coordinating compliance with applicable federal and state nondiscrimination requirements and addressing grievances: Lauren Bustard, Maine State Housing Authority, 26 Edison Drive, Augusta, Maine 04330-4633, Telephone Number 1-800-452-4668 (voice in state only), (207) 626-4600 (voice) or Maine Relay 711.