In general, there are effective laws in place to ensure everyone has fair access to housing regardless of race, color, national origin, gender, age, family status, or disability. Unfortunately, these laws exist because not everyone has equal access to housing. If you believe you have experienced discrimination or if you are an advocate and want to know more about housing rights you can go to these resources:
The State of Hawai`i Executive Office on Aging
The State of Hawai`i Executive Office on Aging offers this web page as a resource on behalf of nursing homes and care home residents.
Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs
The State of Hawai`i also provides the following resources on landlord/tenant rights through its Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.
Hawai`i Fair Housing Office
The goal of the Hawai`i Fair Housing Office is to advocate for compliance with the Federal Fair Housing Act. This act prohibits discrimination on the basis of "protected classes," such as race or color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, and handicap.
The Legal Aid Society of Hawai`i
The Legal Aid Society of Hawai`i is a non-profit law firm dedicated to helping individuals with their civil legal needs. They help individuals and families who cannot afford to hire their own attorneys. They have many areas of expertise including housing laws and rights. The following page will help you learn about your rights in Hawai`i, as well as what to do if you have experienced discrimination.
Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
The Federal government will usually require that you first try to resolve the issue with your state and local offices. Go to the HUD Housing Complaints page and scroll down to find your state's information.
Fair Housing Accessibility First
Fair Housing Accessibility First also has a variety of resources on fair housing laws and practices. The link below will take you to the FAQ page with questions and answers related to fair housing. This website is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Fair Housing Act of 1998
This site provides the written text of the Fair Housing Act of 1998.
National Fair Housing Advocate Online
This national site reports the latest news and information on fair housing and housing discrimination issues.
The National Housing Law Project (NHLP)
The National Housing Law Project (NHLP) is a national housing law and advocacy center.
Independent Living Research Utilization (ILRU)
The Independent Living Research Utilization (ILRU) and its Disability Law Research Project provides an overview of disability housing laws.