Legal Definitions - FHEO

FHEO stands for the Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity.

This is a vital division within the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Its core responsibility is to enforce federal fair housing laws and ensure that all individuals have equal access to housing opportunities, free from discrimination. FHEO investigates complaints of housing discrimination, provides education and outreach, and works to promote diverse and inclusive communities across the United States. The laws it enforces prohibit discrimination based on protected characteristics such as race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status (the presence of children under 18), and disability.

Here are some examples illustrating the role of FHEO:

• Example 1: Rental Application Discrimination

  A qualified applicant with a service animal is denied an apartment by a landlord who claims a "no pets" policy, even after the applicant explains the animal's role in assisting with a disability. The applicant believes they are being discriminated against due to their disability.

  How FHEO applies: The applicant could file a complaint with FHEO. FHEO would then investigate whether the landlord's refusal to make a reasonable accommodation for the service animal constitutes disability discrimination under the Fair Housing Act. If discrimination is found, FHEO can facilitate a resolution or pursue enforcement actions.

• Example 2: Real Estate Agent Steering

  A real estate agent consistently shows homes only in specific neighborhoods to clients of a particular ethnic background, even when those clients express interest in other areas with similar price ranges and amenities. Meanwhile, clients of a different ethnic background with similar preferences are shown homes in a wider variety of neighborhoods.

  How FHEO applies: This scenario describes "steering," a form of discrimination where housing choices are limited based on a protected characteristic (in this case, national origin or race). FHEO would investigate a complaint against the real estate agent to determine if their practices violate the Fair Housing Act by unfairly restricting housing options for certain groups.

• Example 3: Mortgage Lending Bias

  A bank consistently denies mortgage applications from qualified individuals who are single parents, while approving similar applications from married couples with comparable financial profiles. The single parents suspect they are being discriminated against due to their familial status.

  How FHEO applies: This situation could indicate discrimination based on familial status in lending practices. FHEO has the authority to investigate such complaints against financial institutions to ensure they are not engaging in discriminatory lending, which is also prohibited under the Fair Housing Act.