RACIAL STEERING COMPLAINT

Under the Fair Housing Act

Date of Complaint: _________________________

SECTION 1: COMPLAINANT INFORMATION

Full Legal Name: ____________________________________________________________

Date of Birth: _________________________

Address: __________________________________________________________________

City: ______________________________ State: _________ ZIP: _______________

Phone: (______) ______-____________

Email: _____________________________________________________________________

Race/Ethnicity

How do you identify your race/ethnicity?

☐ Black or African American
☐ White
☐ Hispanic or Latino
☐ Asian
☐ Native American or Alaska Native
☐ Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
☐ Middle Eastern or North African
☐ Two or more races
☐ Other: _________________________

National Origin (if applicable): ________________________________________________

Additional Complainants

SECTION 2: RESPONDENT INFORMATION

Real Estate Professional(s) Involved

Primary Respondent:

Name: ____________________________________________________________________

Title: ☐ Real Estate Agent ☐ Real Estate Broker ☐ Leasing Agent ☐ Property Manager ☐ Other: _________

Real Estate License Number: __________________________________________________

Brokerage/Company Name: ___________________________________________________

Company Address: __________________________________________________________

City: ______________________________ State: _________ ZIP: _______________

Phone: (______) ______-____________

Email: _____________________________________________________________________

Brokerage/Company

Company Name: ____________________________________________________________

Broker of Record: ___________________________________________________________

Address: __________________________________________________________________

Phone: (______) ______-____________

Additional Respondents

SECTION 3: HOUSING SEARCH DETAILS

Type of Transaction

☐ Rental
☐ Purchase
☐ Both

Housing Sought

Type of Housing:
☐ Single-Family Home
☐ Condominium
☐ Townhouse
☐ Apartment
☐ Other: _________________________

Price Range/Rent Budget: $_____________ to $_____________

Desired Number of Bedrooms: ______ Bathrooms: ______

Geographic Areas of Interest:

List the neighborhoods, cities, or areas where you expressed interest in finding housing:

1. _________________________________________________________________________
2. _________________________________________________________________________
3. _________________________________________________________________________
4. _________________________________________________________________________

Your Qualifications

Were you financially qualified for housing in your desired areas?

☐ Yes ☐ No ☐ Unknown

Financial Qualifications (if applicable):

☐ Pre-approved for mortgage: Amount $_____________ Lender: _________________________
☐ Proof of income/employment
☐ Credit score: _____________ (approximate)
☐ Down payment available: $_____________
☐ Other qualifications: _________________________________________________________

SECTION 4: STEERING CONDUCT

Definition of Steering

Steering occurs when a real estate professional directs prospective buyers or renters toward or away from certain neighborhoods based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or disability.

Types of Steering Experienced

Check all that apply:

Directing Away from Certain Areas:
☐ Directed away from predominantly white neighborhoods
☐ Directed away from integrated neighborhoods
☐ Told certain areas were "not a good fit"
☐ Told certain areas were "not safe" for people like you
☐ Told you "wouldn't be comfortable" in certain areas
☐ Told certain areas were "too expensive" without verification
☐ Agent refused to show properties in certain areas
☐ Agent discouraged you from viewing properties in certain areas

Directing Toward Certain Areas:
☐ Directed toward predominantly minority neighborhoods
☐ Directed toward neighborhoods with same racial composition as complainant
☐ Only shown properties in certain areas despite requesting others
☐ Told certain areas would be "more comfortable" for you
☐ Agent emphasized properties in minority neighborhoods

Misrepresentation of Availability:
☐ Told properties were not available when they were
☐ Told properties were under contract when they were not
☐ Not informed about properties in certain areas
☐ Given incomplete information about available listings

Differential Treatment:
☐ Shown fewer properties than white homebuyers/renters
☐ Given less time/attention than white clients
☐ Not followed up with about properties in desired areas
☐ Provided less information about neighborhoods
☐ Not told about new listings in desired areas

Discriminatory Comments:
☐ Made comments about neighborhood racial composition
☐ Made comments about schools based on racial demographics
☐ Made assumptions about where you would want to live
☐ Used coded language (e.g., "changing neighborhood," "diverse area")

SECTION 5: DETAILED NARRATIVE

First Contact with Respondent

Date: _________________________

How did you contact the respondent?
☐ In-person at office
☐ Phone call
☐ Email
☐ Online inquiry
☐ Open house
☐ Referral
☐ Other: _________________________

What did you tell the respondent about your housing needs?

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

Steering Incidents

Describe each incident of steering in chronological order.

Incident 1:

Date: _________________________

Location: ____________________________________________________________________

Person(s) Involved: ___________________________________________________________

What Happened:

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

What Was Said (quote exact words when possible):

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

Incident 2:

Date: _________________________

Location: ____________________________________________________________________

Person(s) Involved: ___________________________________________________________

What Happened:

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

What Was Said:

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

Incident 3:

Date: _________________________

What Happened:

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

(Attach additional pages as needed)

SECTION 6: PROPERTIES AND NEIGHBORHOODS

Properties You Were Shown

Properties You Requested to See But Were Not Shown

Neighborhoods Discouraged vs. Encouraged

Neighborhoods You Were Discouraged From:

Neighborhoods You Were Directed Toward:

SECTION 7: COMPARATIVE TREATMENT

Did You Observe or Learn of Different Treatment?

☐ Yes ☐ No ☐ Unknown

Do you know of white homebuyers/renters who:

☐ Were shown properties in areas you were not shown
☐ Were shown more properties overall
☐ Received more information about neighborhoods
☐ Were encouraged to view properties in integrated/white areas
☐ Were given more time and attention
☐ Other: _________________________

Describe comparative treatment:

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

Fair Housing Testing Evidence

Was fair housing testing conducted?

☐ No
☐ Yes
☐ Unknown

If yes:

Testing Organization: _________________________________________________________

Date of Testing: _________________________

Results Summary:

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

SECTION 8: EVIDENCE AND DOCUMENTATION

Documents Available

☐ Email correspondence with agent
☐ Text messages
☐ Written notes from conversations
☐ Property listings shown to you
☐ Property listings you requested but were denied
☐ MLS data on available properties
☐ Pre-approval letter
☐ Financial qualification documents
☐ Agent's marketing materials
☐ Photos of properties/neighborhoods
☐ Screenshots of listings
☐ Audio/video recordings (if legal in your state)
☐ Testing reports
☐ Other: _________________________

Witnesses

SECTION 9: HARM AND DAMAGES

Impact on Housing Search

☐ Unable to purchase/rent desired housing
☐ Purchased/rented in less desirable area
☐ Paid more for housing than necessary
☐ Lost desired property to another buyer
☐ Extended housing search
☐ Gave up on certain neighborhoods
☐ Other: _________________________

Economic Damages

Non-Economic Damages

☐ Emotional distress
☐ Humiliation
☐ Frustration
☐ Loss of dignity
☐ Feelings of being treated as less than equal
☐ Anxiety about housing
☐ Loss of opportunity to live in neighborhood of choice
☐ Other: _________________________

Describe the impact on you:

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

SECTION 10: PRIOR COMPLAINTS

Other Agency Complaints

☐ No prior complaints filed
☐ Yes - provide details:

Lawsuits

Have you filed a lawsuit?

☐ No
☐ Yes

Court: ______________________________________ Case Number: _____________________

SECTION 11: RELIEF REQUESTED

☐ Order respondent to cease steering practices
☐ Compensatory damages for actual losses
☐ Compensatory damages for emotional distress
☐ Civil penalties
☐ Punitive damages
☐ Discipline of real estate license
☐ Fair housing training for respondent
☐ Changes to company policies and practices
☐ Monitoring of respondent's practices
☐ Attorney fees and costs
☐ Other: _________________________

SECTION 12: CERTIFICATION

I certify under penalty of perjury that:

1. The information in this complaint is true and correct to the best of my knowledge.

2. I understand complaints must be filed within ONE YEAR of the discriminatory act with HUD.

3. I understand I may file a lawsuit within TWO YEARS (or no time limit under 42 U.S.C. § 1982 for race discrimination).

4. I understand that retaliation for filing this complaint is illegal.

_____________________________________________ _________________________
Complainant Signature Date

_____________________________________________
Printed Name

STATE-SPECIFIC NOTES

California

State Agency: California Civil Rights Department (CRD)
Phone: (800) 884-1684
Website: calcivilrights.ca.gov

Real Estate Licensing: California Department of Real Estate (DRE)
DRE Phone: (877) 373-4542
DRE Website: dre.ca.gov

Additional Notes:
- California law prohibits steering on all protected bases
- DRE can discipline licensees for fair housing violations
- Violations can result in license suspension or revocation
- California REALTOR Code of Ethics also prohibits steering

Texas

State Agency: Texas Workforce Commission Civil Rights Division
Phone: (512) 463-2642
Website: twc.texas.gov

Real Estate Licensing: Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC)
TREC Phone: (512) 936-3000
Website: trec.texas.gov

Additional Notes:
- Texas Fair Housing Act prohibits steering
- TREC enforces license law violations
- Steering can result in license discipline
- File complaint within one year

Florida

State Agency: Florida Commission on Human Relations (FCHR)
Phone: (850) 488-7082
Website: fchr.myflorida.com

Real Estate Licensing: Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR)
Phone: (850) 487-1395
Website: myfloridalicense.com

Additional Notes:
- Florida Fair Housing Act prohibits steering
- DBPR can investigate license law violations
- Dual filing with both FCHR and DBPR may be appropriate

New York

State Agency: New York State Division of Human Rights (DHR)
Phone: (844) 697-3471
Website: dhr.ny.gov

Real Estate Licensing: New York Department of State (DOS)
Phone: (518) 474-4429
Website: dos.ny.gov

Additional Notes:
- New York Human Rights Law has strong anti-steering provisions
- Three-year statute of limitations (incidents after February 15, 2024)
- DOS can discipline real estate licensees
- NYC has additional protections under NYC Human Rights Law
- Recent investigations have resulted in significant enforcement actions

LEGAL BACKGROUND: RACIAL STEERING

What is Steering?

Steering is the practice of directing prospective homebuyers or renters toward or away from certain neighborhoods based on their race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or disability. It is a violation of the Fair Housing Act.

Types of Steering

1. Directing toward same-race neighborhoods: Showing minority buyers only properties in minority neighborhoods
2. Directing away from white neighborhoods: Discouraging minority buyers from viewing properties in predominantly white areas
3. Misrepresenting availability: Telling minority buyers properties are unavailable in white neighborhoods
4. Differential information: Providing less information about neighborhoods or listings to minority clients

Related Illegal Practices

Blockbusting: Inducing homeowners to sell by implying that minority groups are moving into the neighborhood

Redlining: Denying or limiting financial services to certain neighborhoods based on racial composition

Applicable Laws

1. Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. § 3604): Prohibits discrimination in sale/rental of housing
2. Civil Rights Act of 1866 (42 U.S.C. § 1982): Provides that all citizens have same property rights as white citizens - NO statute of limitations for race claims
3. State Fair Housing Laws: Most states have additional protections
4. Real Estate License Laws: Violations can result in license discipline

Enforcement

• HUD investigates complaints and can pursue enforcement
• DOJ can bring pattern-or-practice cases
• Private lawsuits can seek compensatory and punitive damages
• State real estate commissions can discipline licensees

FILING OPTIONS

Federal

HUD Online: portalapps.hud.gov/FHEO903
HUD Phone: 1-800-669-9777

State Real Estate Commission

File a complaint with your state's real estate licensing authority (see state-specific notes)

State Civil Rights Agency

File with your state fair housing enforcement agency

Private Lawsuit

• Federal court under Fair Housing Act (2-year deadline)
• Federal court under Civil Rights Act of 1866 (no deadline for race discrimination)
• State court under state fair housing laws

Fair Housing Organizations

Contact local fair housing organizations for assistance:
- National Fair Housing Alliance: nationalfairhousing.org
- Local fair housing councils

This template is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.