IT’S YOUR RIGHT
The Fair Housing Act protects people from discrimination when they are renting, buying, or securing financing for any housing. The prohibitions specifically cover discrimination because of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, and the presence of children.
We would like to remind our residents that federal and state laws are in place to protect you against housing discrimination and intimidation within the home. We encourage you to know your rights and know the signs of housing discrimination to help further the availability of housing free from discrimination and prejudice and promote sustainable homeownership opportunities.
Learn more about your protections under the Fair Housing Act right here.
The City of Bellevue has committed to highlighting the Fair Housing Law, and Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, by continuing to address discrimination in our community and to support programs that will educate the public about the right to equal housing opportunities. To accomplish this goal, the City of Bellevue has adopted the Fair Housing Ordinance, which prohibits discrimination in housing and can be found under Documents and Forms.
ASSESSMENT OF FAIR HOUSING
The City, as a direct recipient of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), is required to complete an Assessment of Fair Housing that evaluates fair housing issues and prioritizes goals to affirmatively further fair housing and an annual certification that states it will affirmatively further fair housing in its community. In 2018, the City of Bellevue partnered with the City of Omaha and other organizations to complete a regional assessment of fair housing. A copy of the Regional Assessment of Fair Housing is available here, and a copy of Bellevue’s fair housing review is available here.
In 2020, the City of Bellevue supported a City-Wide Housing Study with Strategies for Housing Affordability. This study (available here) outlines housing goals and development initiatives for Sarpy County, NE, and specifically for Bellevue.
FAIR HOUSING RESOURCES
The City has information and brochures available on housing discrimination and landlord/tenant rights under Documents and Forms.
The Nebraska Equal Opportunity Commission (NEOC) is the state agency responsible for protecting residents of Nebraska from unlawful discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations. People calling the NEOC to file a charge of discrimination will be referred to the agency's intake unit to set up an appointment. These staff members are trained to assist potential complainants in discerning whether alleged harms would be covered under the laws which the NEOC enforces. The NEOC can be contact at (800) 642-6112 and through their website, https://neoc.nebraska.gov/
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is the federal agency responsible for administering the federal Fair Housing Act. To file a complaint, you may contact the regional HUD Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Office in Kansas City at (800) 743-5323 or HUD’s Housing Discrimination Hotline at 1-800-669-9777 and the website is available here: https://www.hud.gov/fairhousing/fileacomplaint
Other fair housing assistance is available to Nebraska residents through the following organizations:
For any questions or additional information regarding fair housing, please contact the City of Bellevue at (402) 293-3000, or CDBG Program Specialist, Abby Highland, at abby.highland@outlook.com.
Other Helpful Links
HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) - https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp
Legal Aid of Nebraska, Landlord-Tenant Issues and Handbook – https://www.legalaidofnebraska.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/2021-LLT-Handbook-1.pdf
Nebraska Landlord and Tenant Act - https://nrec.nebraska.gov/legal/landlordacttoc.html
HUD Housing Counseling Services - https://hudgov-answers.force.com/housingcounseling/s/?language=en_US
Americans with Disabilities Act - https://www.ada.gov/
HUD Fair Housing Accessibility First Home - https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp/accessibility_first_home