Free legal information, advice and representation for unfair treatment or denial of housing based on age, sex, sexual preference, race or ethnic origin, nationality, religion, disability or marital status is available in Rochester and Western New York from these organizations:
Housing Opportunities Made Equal Inc. (HOME): Investigation & counseling for victims of housing discrimination. Paralegal counseling for landlords and tenants. Information about fair housing law. Technical assistance for government, housing and service providers. Housing and human service information and referral. Housing search assistance for Section 8 participants. Research and compliance monitoring.
HOME’s mission is to assure the people of Western New York equal opportunity to live in the housing and communities of their choice through education, advocacy, the enforcement of fair housing laws and the creation of housing opportunities. www.homeny.org (716) 854-1400.
HUD Housing Counseling: Housing, counseling services and workshops on pre-purchase, post-purchase, reverse mortgages, rental, mortgage default and financial education. www.belmontshelter.org (716) 884-7791.
Neighborhood Legal Services: Handicapped rights, legal advice/representation to developmentally disabled and others. Family problems-child snatching, victims of domestic violence, housing problems-landlord/tenant, housing discrimination, public, etc.
Entitlements: Welfare, food stamps, Medicaid, SSI, utilities. PAMII – Protection Advocacy for mentally Ill individuals. Vocational rehabilitation – assistive technology issues. www.nls.org (716) 847-0650.
New York State – Division of Human Rights: Intake and investigation of notarized complaints alleging discrimination in the jurisdiction of employment, housing, public accommodations, credit, education (non-sectarian), and volunteer fire company department on the grounds of age (18 & over), race, color, national origin, sex, creed, marital status, disability, familial status (families with children), previous arrest record or conviction record, military status or sexual preference. www.dhr.state.ny.us – (716) 847-763
Western New York Law Center Inc: Legal representation for residential home foreclosures; housing discrimination, and disability rights cases. www.wnylc.net (716) 855-0203.