FAIR HOUSING RIGHTS
Know your housing rights. If you think you may have experienced discrimination in the housing market, please contact us.
FEDERAL AND STATE FAIR HOUSING LAWS
The federal Fair Housing Act and the Wisconsin Open Housing Law make it illegal to discriminate in housing based on the following protected classes:
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Race – A person’s race or the race of persons with whom one associates.
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Color – A person’s skin color.
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Sex – A person’s sex, gender identity, or sexual orientation. Harassment or intimidation based on sex, gender identity, or sexual orientation are also prohibited.
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National Origin/Ancestry – The country of one’s birth and/or the nationality of one’s ancestors.
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Religion – A person’s religious beliefs or denominational affiliation.
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Disability/Handicap – A physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.
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Family/Familial Status – Household composition, including the presence of children.
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Age – Persons 18 years of age and older.
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Marital Status – Married, single, divorced, widowed or separated.
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Lawful Source of Income – A person’s legal means of income, including such subsidized forms as Social Security, Food Stamps, Unemployment Compensation, etc.
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Sexual Orientation – Heterosexuality, homosexuality and bisexuality.
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Domestic Abuse, Sexual Assault and Stalking Victims – Persons who have been or are victims of domestic abuse, sexual assault or stalking.
LOCAL ORDINANCES
City and county fair housing ordinances may include additional protected classes. For instance, the cities of Green Bay, Madison, Milwaukee and Appleton, as well as Milwaukee and Dane Counties, have protected classes not included in state and federal fair housing laws.
CITY OF MADISON
AND DANE COUNTY PROTECTED CLASSES
Military Discharge Status – Type of military discharge, also including active duty status.
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Physical Appearance – The outward appearance of any person.
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Political Beliefs – A person's opinions concerning the social, economic and governmental structure of society and its institutions.
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Student Status – Having or not having standing as an enrollee of a school or apprenticeship program.
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Domestic Partnership – Two adults in a relationship of mutual support, who occupy the same dwelling as a single housekeeping unit, and whose relationship is of a permanent domestic character.
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Tenant Union Association – Persons who form or are associated with a tenant union.
Gender Identity – Identifying or presenting oneself as male, female or androgynous, regardless of one's biological sex at birth.
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Genetic Identity – Genetic information unique to the individual, including information about genetic tests. (City of Madison only)
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Citizenship Status – The immigration status or citizenship of any person. (City of Madison only)
Receipt of Rental Assistance – Participants in the Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) or persons who receive other types of rental assistance.
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Nonreligion – Atheism, agnosticism, or other disbelief or lack of belief in the existence of God or gods. (City of Madison only)
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Homelessness – The status of lacking housing, including having a shelter or transitional housing facility as a primary residence. (City of Madison only)
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Unemployment - The status of not having a job or employment. (City of Madison only)
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Status as a Building Code Complainant - Persons who have complained to their housing provider, the City of Madison Building Inspection Division of the Department of Planning and Community and Economic Development, Public Health Madison and Dane County, or to any state or local investigatory or enforcement agency within the last six months. (City of Madison only)
CITY OF MILWAUKEE AND MILWAUKEE COUNTY PROTECTED CLASSES
Gender Identity or Expression - Gender identity, appearance, expression, or behavior of an individual, regardless of the individual’s assigned sex at birth.
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Military Service – Past or present membership in the military. (City of Milwaukee only)
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Domestic Partnership – Having status in a domestic partnership. (Milwaukee County only)
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Genetic Identity – Genetic information unique to an individual, including results of genetic tests. (City of Milwaukee only)
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Homelessness – The status of lacking housing including being a resident of transitional housing or a supervised temporary living facility. (City of Milwaukee only)
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Receipt of rental or housing assistance – Any form of financial contribution from a third party, including but not limited to housing choice vouchers, commonly known as Section 8. (Milwaukee County only)
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CITY OF APPLETON, DE PERE
AND OSHKOSH PROTECTED CLASS
Gender Identity or Expression - Gender-related self-identity, appearance, expression, or behavior of an individual, regardless of the individual’s assigned sex at birth.
CITY OF GREEN BAY PROTECTED CLASSES
Gender Identity – A person’s internal sense of their own gender, which may be the same as or different from their assigned sex at birth.
Gender Expression - A person's external manifestations of gender, which may be expressed through name, pronouns, clothing, haircut, behavior, voice, body characteristics, or other means.
Gender Nonconformity - Individuals who do not conform to traditional expectations of their assigned sex at birth and/or whose gender expression does not fit neatly into a conventional gender category.
Transgender Status - Individuals whose gender identity and/or expression is different from cultural expectations based on the sex they were assigned at birth.
Past or Present Military Service – Current or past service in a branch of the military.
