More than 200 South Carolina Stakeholders Attend Virtual Fair Housing Summit

In response to a request by Public Housing Authorities in South Carolina for training on the Fair Housing Act as it relates to disabilities, with a specific focus on emotional support animals and service animals, the local HUD Office partnered with other HUD Offices in the Region to plan and implement a Regional Fair Housing Summit.

Service and emotional support animals as well as accommodations/modification of units was covered by Marvin Caldwell, Jr., Deputy Commissioner for Compliance Programs, South Carolina Human Affairs Commission.

Other topics during the Summit included an overview of case statistics contrasted to national statistics; fair housing criminal history-based practices and policies and how they can intersect with fair housing laws; the current status of LGBTQ housing discrimination; familial status; and fair lending.

The Fair Housing Act protects people from discrimination when they are renting or buying a home, getting a mortgage, seeking housing assistance, or engaging in other housing-related activities. The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing because of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status or disability.

If you believe you have been a victim of housing discrimination, please review our website to learn how to file a fair housing complaint https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp/online-complaint.

You may also file a complaint by contacting the South Carolina Human Affairs Commission at 1-800-521-0725 or via their website https://schac.sc.gov/housing-discrimination.

###