The basic concept of fair housing is that every person has the same fundamental right to purchase, lease or occupy residential real property. Under federal and state law, no person shall be subjected to discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin in the sale, rental or advertising of dwellings, in the provision of brokerage services, or in the availability of residential real estate-related transactions. Also, East Lansing city code prohibits discrimination based on age, height, weight, sexual orientation, student status, use of adaptive devices or aids and legal source of income. The City of East Lansing is committed to furthering fair housing by upholding the law and educating the public about their rights under the law.
The East Lansing City Council has recently approved the 2011 Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing. The Analysis of Impediments is a thorough analysis of current barriers and challenges to fair housing choice in East Lansing.
If you believe your rights have been violated or have questions regarding fair housing requirements call the Human Resource Department at (517) 319-6893, which staffs the Human Relations Commission (HRC). The HRC is the entity which deals with discrimination cases in East Lansing. The Human Relations Commission will gather information about your situation and attempt to resolve the situation if a case of discrimination is established.