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Fair Housing and Equity

We work to prevent discrimination and ensure fair and equitable access to housing for all people of Boston.

Our mission is to ensure fair and equitable access to housing opportunities. We strive to increase equity and reduce barriers to opportunity for persons living and working in the City of Boston.

You can learn more about the Boston Fair Housing Commission regulations. If you feel you've experienced housing discrimination in Boston, you can file a complaint with our office. 

Contact

How can we help?

How can we help?
Have you been evicted or at risk of eviction?

The Office of Housing Stability offers programs such as rental assistance programs and other helpful resources.

 

If you believe you’ve suffered a discriminatory eviction, please file an intake with our Fair Housing and Equity team. Someone will reach out to you shortly. 

Do you need legal assistance?

Contact these resources for help:

Do you need assistance finding housing?

Please go to Metrolist to review the city’s affordable housing listings.

Do you need to apply for Rental Assistance?

Please contact the Office of Housing Stability, where you can get connected with rental assistance programs and other helpful resources.

Please go to Metrolist to review the city’s affordable housing listings:

Search Metrolist

Please contact the Office of Housing Stability, where you can get connected with rental assistance programs and other helpful resources.

Office of Housing Stability

Do you have a child aged 6 years or younger?

Please file an intake with our Fair Housing and Equity team and someone will reach out to you shortly.

Looking for help with lead poisoning, lead pipes, lead levels, lead paint, lead tests, lead testing, abatements, or lead removal?

Please contact the Boston Public Health Commission for more information about lead poisoning and lead in homes.

Need general support?

Please contact the Inspectional Services Department, where you can request a home inspection and get connected with other helpful resources.

Are the maintenance issues negatively affecting your disability or are they otherwise discriminatory?

Please file an intake with our Fair Housing and Equity team and someone will reach out to you shortly.

Please contact the Inspectional Services Department, where you can request a home inspection and get connected with other helpful resources.

For help with deposits, lease violations, noise and excessive Noise, and more, contact the Office of Housing Stability:

Office of Housing Stability

Have you been discriminated against? Have you faced racism, homophobia, slurs, discrimination, harassment, or retaliation?

If the this issue happened outside the City of Boston, please bring your case to the Massachusetts Commission of Discrimination.

If you live in the City of Boston and the discrimination took place related to housing, please fill out an intake form.

Submit an intake online

If you feel you've experienced housing discrimination in Boston, you can file a complaint with our office. To start the process, please call us at 617-635-2500, or complete our online intake form below.

Submit an intake
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Upcoming events

Events

Fair Housing Resources

Resources

It is illegal for housing providers to discriminate against families with children under six even if the unit is known to have lead paint. The Massachusetts lead law requires that any place built prior to 1978 where a child under six years old lives must be made lead safe.

Office of Housing Stability

Helps residents find and maintain stable, safe and affordable housing.

RentSmart Boston

Get data compiled from BOS: 311 and Inspectional Services about Boston’s properties.

Boston Home Center

The center helps Boston residents purchase, improve, and keep their homes.

METROLIST

Provides all residents with equal access to housing opportunities. This includes income-restricted rental properties and affordable housing lotteries and resales.

Outside of Boston?

Have you experienced housing discrimination outside of Boston, or any other non-housing discrimination?

Contact the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination:

Commission website

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