Who We Serve
FHANC offers fair housing counseling services to homeowners and renters located in the counties of Marin and Sonoma (with the exception of the city of Petaluma), as well as the cities of Fairfield and Vallejo, who have experienced discrimination based on their membership in a protected class. We also offer Foreclosure Prevention and Pre-Purchase Education/Counseling services to homeowners in the Bay Area.
FHANC Success Stories
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What Our Clients Say:
“Thank you so much for championing my cause. I truly felt supported every step of the way. It’s not often that the rights of the disenfranchised are heard, let alone fought for. You fought hard and well and I am grateful.” D.F. "I am deeply appreciative to yourself and your staff for coming to our aid… What matters is that you were there for …[us] in a very desperate moment. We were encouraged and strengthened by your caring and support, more than you can know. Thank you... for standing with us when we truly needed the help. God bless you and your staff." K.H. “It was such a thoughtful gesture for you to care about my housing security! You did an EXCELLENT JOB! I wanted to let you know how grateful I am that you “stuck” by me to ensure that I stay in my housing after being treated so unjustly by my landlady!” A.C |
Client Stories:
FHANC intervened on behalf of a client with severe physical disabilities who had received a notice terminating her tenancy shortly after management complained about her use of a disabled parking space. FHANC staff successfully negotiated an immediate rescission of the notice, permitting the client to remain in her home and educating the housing provider on fair housing laws. FHANC assisted a Spanish-speaking couple whose mortgage payments had become untenable following the addition of a baby to the household. FHANC secured $45,500 for the couple through Keep Your Home California’s principal reduction program, reducing their monthly mortgage payment by $1,000 and permitting the family to remain in the home and community they loved. FHANC garnered $90,120 in settlements for 5 housing discrimination cases on behalf of clients, as well as the agency, through informal interventions and administrative complaints. Building upon investigations conducted in past years, FHANC, along with approximately twenty other non-profit fair housing organizations, filed a lawsuit in early 2017 in federal court against Fannie Mae for discriminating in the maintenance and/or marketing of its foreclosed properties and perpetuating segregation. The lawsuit is pending. |
FHANC Statistics: Fiscal Year 2017-18
Between July 1, 2016 and June 30, 2017, Fair Housing Advocates of Northern California fielded a total of 1,244 inquiries from tenants, homeowners, social service providers, and advocates across Marin, Napa, Sonoma, and Solano counties. In late 2016, the agency changed its name to better reflect our mission of advocacy and expanded service area.
* Based on federal and California discrimination protections
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Overview
Of clients assisted by FHANC last year, 89% of clients were extremely low, very low, or low income. In addition, 30% were Latino, 7% of whom spoke no English, and 14% were Black/African-American. More than four out of every five inquiries concerned rental properties. Of these inquiries, 337 were housing discrimination complaints. Federal Protections: FHANC took 246 complaints related to disability, 42 complaints of national origin discrimination, 37 complaints of race discrimination, 28 complaints of familial status discrimination, 32 complaints of gender discrimination, 5 complaints of religious discrimination, and 2 complaints of discrimination on the basis of color. State Protections: FHANC also received 2 complaints alleging age discrimination, 1 complaint alleging marital status discrimination, 1 complaint alleging source of income discrimination, and 2 complaints alleging discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Please note that that some complaints alleged discrimination on the basis of multiple protected classes. As part of a nationwide effort, FHANC conducted investigation into discrimination in the maintenance and marketing of more than 51 real estate-owned properties across the Bay Area that resulted in an administrative complaint against an Asset Management Specialists, a servicer of Fannie Mae. 
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By The Numbers
- 1,244 clients served - 46 reasonable accommodations granted of 55 requested - 17 reasonable modification requests funded to improve accessibility for people with disabilities - 74 rental properties investigated for discriminatory practices - 11 administrative fair housing complaints filed with the Department of Housing and Urban Development or the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing - 1 lawsuit filed (Fannie Mae) in federal court - $90,120 garnered in settlements for clients and FHANC - 95 homeowners facing foreclosure counseled - $396,791 paid to homeowners through Keep Your Home California Programs to prevent foreclosure - 259 prospective homebuyers educated - 241 housing providers trained - 138 tenants and staff from service agencies reached though fair housing presentations - 172 community members attended fair housing conferences - 5,000 pieces of literature distributed - 150 children participated in annual Fair Housing Poster Contest from 10 local schools - 2,100 children attended 13 Storytelling shows | ||
