The Westchester County Human Rights Commission is proud to be a part of Fair Street USA presented by the City of White Plains.
You have the right to choose where you want to live free from discrimination. Everyone is protected under Westchester County’s Fair Housing Law.
The Westchester County Human Rights Commission accepts, investigates and adjudicates discrimination complaints.

If you have experienced or witnessed housing discrimination, contact the Westchester County Human Rights Commission at
(914) 995-9500, or email .

Responses to the word bubbles on the Commission’s Fair Street USA home are below.

1. “No Kids!”
   Families with children under 18 and pregnant persons cannot be denied housing. Familial status is protected under the Westchester County Fair Housing Law. Housing providers also cannot impose special requirements or conditions on tenants with custody of children or pregnant persons. Facilities which qualify, however, may be designated as Housing for Older Persons. Contact the Human Rights Commission if you experience or witness housing discrimination.
   
   
2. “U.S. Citizens Only!”
   The Westchester County Fair Housing Law prohibits discrimination based on national origin and citizenship/alienage status. This discrimination can be based either upon the individual’s actual or perceived country of birth, where their ancestors originated from, and/or whether they are U.S. Citizens. Contact the Human Rights Commission if you experience or witness housing discrimination.
   
   
3. “No Section 8 Accepted!”
   Discrimination against individuals with lawful sources of income, including, but not limited to the Housing Choice Voucher program (known as “Section 8”), is prohibited by the Westchester County Fair Housing Law. Housing providers are not permitted to indicate a discriminatory preference for or against an individual, or interfere with their rights, because of their lawful sources of income. Contact the Human Rights Commission if you experience or witness housing discrimination.
   
   
4. “No Dogs. No Exceptions!”
   Dogs and other animals may be necessary as service animals for individuals with disabilities. The Westchester County Fair Housing Law prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability, which includes a failure to provide reasonable accommodations for service animals. Contact the Human Rights Commission if you experience or witness disability discrimination.
   
   
5. “The most common fair housing discrimination complaint is…”
   Disability discrimination remains the number one basis for filed housing discrimination cases nationwide. Contact the Human Rights Commission if you experience or witness disability discrimination in housing.
   
   
6. “A ramp would make the building ugly!”
   It is unlawful under the Westchester County Fair Housing Law for housing providers to deny reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities. These accommodations may include, among others: features of adaptive design, such as accessible routes through the housing accommodation, widened doors leading into the housing accommodation, and ramps. If a reasonable modification is needed in a common-area space, the housing provider must cover its cost. Contact the Human Rights Commission if you experience or witness housing discrimination.
   
   
7. “Perfect for Single Professionals!”
   The Westchester County Fair Housing Law prohibits discrimination based on marital status, familial status, source of income and disability. The phrase “single professionals” explicitly states a preference based on marital status and familial status (the presence of children under the age of 18) and, therefore, violates the law. It also expresses a preference for “professionals” and impliedly discriminates against people with disabilities who are unable to work. It also implies a limitation against people with certain protected sources of income. Contact the Human Rights Commission if you experience or witness housing discrimination.
   
   
8. “You’re pretty; we can work out ‘another’ way for you to pay rent.”
   Sexual harassment in housing is prohibited by the Westchester County Fair Housing Law. Housing providers, their staff and boards, cannot condition your housing, or any of its facilities or services, on your willingness to engage in an unwanted sexual or romantic relationship. It would also be discriminatory for them to create a hostile and unwelcome environment by subjecting you to sexually harassing behavior. Contact the Human Rights Commission if you experience or witness sexual harassment in housing.
   
   
9. “This might not be the right place for you to live.”
   When real estate agents steer potential homeowners to certain neighborhoods or away from certain neighborhoods based on a protected characteristic, such as race, color, or national origin, they are violating the Westchester County Fair Housing Law. Contact the Human Rights Commission if you experience or witness housing discrimination.
   
   
10. There are 4 million estimated incidents of housing discrimination every year
    That is equal to four times the number of people who live in Westchester County! Housing discrimination often goes undetected and unreported because it is difficult to identify or document. It is common for victims of discrimination to feel that nothing can or will be done about the discrimination they experience and to fear retaliation by their housing provider, landlord, or even neighbors. Only a small fraction of incidents is reported. This figure is an estimate from the National Fair Housing Alliance. Contact the Human Rights Commission if you experience or witness housing discrimination.