Fair Housing Complaint Procedures and Policy

The Fair Housing Act

Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act), as amended, prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of dwellings, and in other housing-related transactions, based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status (including children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women, and people securing custody of children under the age of 18), and handicap (disability).

POLICY:
This grievance procedure is established to provide full opportunity for citizens to bring to the attention of City management, complaints, grievances, or situations that the citizen feels need either for adjustment or information. It is the intent and desire of the City to address complaints of unfair housing practices within the City. It should be understood that the appropriate agencies for action are not located locally, but the City will make reasonable efforts to inform the complainant of the appropriate course of action.

The complainant shall discuss and explain his/her complaint or grievance orally with the Fair Housing Coordinator who may call higher-level supervision into the discussion in an effort to achieve a prompt satisfactory adjustment. The Fair Housing Coordinator shall record the complaint into the Fair Housing Complaint Log. Based on the characteristics of the complaint, the Fair Housing Coordinator may choose one or more of the following courses of action; refer the complaint to the City Manager, inform the alleged offending party of the complaint and offer to serve as a mediator, refer the case to the Regional Office of HUD for action.

Questions? Contact Mike Lacour, Fair Housing Coordinator for the City of Port St Joe at (850) 229-8261