Fair Housing

Our Fair Housing project helps people who face illegal discrimination in housing. Here are the kinds of problems we help with.

  1. We answer questions about housing discrimination. This includes questions from people with disabilities about their rights to "reasonable accommodations." We do this by:
    • talking with clients and advocates (in person and by phone),
    • providing information online and using printed materials, and
    • giving community presentations.

     
  2. We help people with disabilities get "reasonable accommodations," such as:
    • service animals,
    • assigned parking spaces near a building’s entrance,
    • early terminations of leases,
    • getting a larger section 8 unit because of the need for a live-in aide, and
    • other exceptions to landlords’ standard policies.

    We also help people who need physical changes to their units--such a ramps or railings. These are reasonable modifications.

     
  3. We help people facing eviction due to behavior related to a disability. Often a "reasonable accommodation" allows the renter to stay in his home. We also represent people facing eviction because of retaliation. This is where a landlord threatens eviction because a tenant:
    • filed a fair housing complaint, or
    • has been targeted as a victim of illegal housing discrimination.

     
  4. We represent victims of illegal housing discrimination by filing complaints with the Maine Human Rights Commission and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Pine Tree Legal Assistance’s Fair Housing project is not just for people with low-incomes. But if you call us for help, we will ask you about your income and other household information.