Fair Housing & MaineHousing

General Fair Housing Information

Federal and state laws give you a right to fair housing. This means you have the right to be free from discrimination in the sale, rental, advertising or financing of housing. Discrimination means any action, omission or decision that results in restricting your choice of housing and access to housing assistance.

• Learn more about state fair housing and equal access laws from the Maine Human Rights Commission . They are the state agency responsible for enforcing Maine’s fair housing laws.
• Learn more about federal fair housing and equal access laws from the Office of Fair Housing & Equal Opportunity at the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development. They are the federal agency responsible for enforcing federal fair housing laws.

Disability Rights

Federal and state laws provide certain rights and protections for persons with disabilities, including persons with mental and physical disabilities. This means you cannot be discriminated against because of your disability. The laws also require housing providers to make reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities in policies, procedures and programs and allow reasonable changes so that persons with disabilities can fully enjoy their housing and related facilities. Additionally, multifamily housing must be designed and constructed to comply with certain accessibility standards.

• Learn more about Maine’s disability rights laws and accessibility standards from the Maine Human Rights Commission . 
• Learn more about federal disability rights laws and accessibility standards.
  
• Federal Fair Housing Act  relating to all housing and programs
• Architectural Barriers Act of 1968  relating to federally-assisted housing and programs
• Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973  relating to federally-assisted housing and programs
• Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the U.S. Department of Justice’s ADA  and a list of ADA publications 
  • Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 relating to programs, services and activities provided or made possible by State and local governments – summary of Title II requirements .
  • Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 relating to public accommodations – for a summary of Title III requirements .
• Learn more about reasonable accommodations 
• For more information and resources:
  • For consumer guides to disability rights laws prepared by the United States Department of Justice  and prepared by Disability Rights Center of Maine .
  • For the Federal government’s website  on disability-related information and resources
  • For the State’s website  on disability-related information and resources
  • For Access Maine’s website 
  • For Disability Rights Center of Maine’s website 

Limited English Proficiency

MaineHousing, upon sufficient notice, will accommodate the communication needs of persons contacting MaineHousing. MaineHousing will respond to requests for language assistance services, such as written translation of key documents, in a timely manner.

To File a Complaint

• Learn more about the State’s fair housing complaint process 
• Learn more about HUD’s fair housing complaint process 
• Learn more about the ADA Title II complaint process for discrimination against persons with disabilities relating to State and local government services and assistance, see the complaint form .

Advocacy Groups and Legal Resources

• Pine Tree Legal Assistance 
  • Augusta, 39 Green Street, Suite 7436
    Tel: 207-622-4731 or 207-623-7777 or 207-623-7770 (TTY)
  • Bangor, 115 Main Street, Suite 2
    Tel: 207-942-8241 or 207-942-1060 (TTY)
  • Lewiston, 95 Park Street, Suite 301
    Tel: 207-784-1558
  • Machias, 13 Cooper Street
    Tel: 207-255-8656 or 207-255-6179 (TTY)
  • Portland, 88 Federal Street
    Tel: 207-774-8211 or 207-828-2308 (TTY)
  • Presque Isle, 373 Main Street
    Tel: 207-764-4349 or 207-764-2453 (TTY)
  • Farmworker & Native American Units - Bangor
    Tel: 207-942-0673
  • Multi-lingual Language Line
    Tel: 207-774-8211
• Maine Volunteer Lawyers Project 
  Tel: 1-207-573-1172 for Aroostook, Hancock, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Somerset, Waldo and Washington Counties
  Tel: 1-207-544-4886 for all other Maine Counties

• Maine Equal Justice Project 
  Tel: 207-626-7058
• Disability Rights Center 
  Statewide Hotline, Tel. 1-800-452-1948 (V/TTY)
• For information about other advocacy groups in Maine 

Fair Housing Training for Partners
MaineHousing is offering a free Understanding of Fair Housing training program. This program is on demand and self-paced. It is available through our online learning portal.

Training Registration

MaineHousing Nondiscrimination Policy

Maine State Housing Authority (" MaineHousing") does not discriminate on the basis of protected classes under the applicable federal and state nondiscrimination laws, in the admission or access to, or treatment in, its programs and activities and in employment. MaineHousing will provide appropriate communication auxiliary aids and services upon sufficient notice. MaineHousing will also provide this document in alternative formats upon sufficient notice. MaineHousing has designated the following person responsible for coordinating compliance with applicable federal and state nondiscrimination requirements and addressing grievances: Kelley Stonebraker, Maine State Housing Authority, 26 Edison Drive, Augusta, Maine 04330, Telephone Number 1-800-452-4668 (voice in state only), (207) 626-4600 (voice), or Maine Relay 711, Email [email protected].