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Codrington v. St. Louis In 1991, Joseph and Lauretta Codrington, a Black family with three children, attempted to rent a three bedroom house in Ypsilanti Township.  The owner refused to take the Codringtons' deposit, saying she didn't want to rent to a family of five. The owner later agreed to rent the house to a white FHC tester saying she had a family of five.  In 1992, the Codringtons filed a lawsuit in U.S. Federal Court.  The case settled for $15,000.		Patterson v. The Pines Deb Patterson uses a wheelchair and like any other tenant wanted to come and go from her apartment building without help. She needed an electric door and a smooth sidewalk. Using the Michigan Persons with Disabilities Civil Rights Act, she fought for her right for a safe, clear path out of the building. Her struggle included a weekly picket of the apartment complex. She finally won the accommodation, and an undisclosed settlement.

The Fair Housing Center has assisted in the filing of over sixty fair housing lawsuits with combined settlements exceeding $1,100,000.

Call the Fair Housing Center (serving Ingham, Jackson, Lenawee, Livingston, Monroe and Washtenaw Counties).

Washtenaw: (734) 994-3426
Toll-free: (877) 979- FAIR

You can also email us at info@fhcmichigan.org or visit our Contact Us page for more detailed information.

Housing discrimination isn't always obvious. You may hear this:

"Sorry, we just rented the last apartment"

"No kids in this building"

"You can't put a ramp in here"

"You might feel more comfortable in another neighborhood"

"We must have lost your application"

"Your son and daughter can't share a bedroom"

"We don't take SSI, working people only"

The Fair Housing Center provides investigative services, testing, advice, advocacy, conciliation, attorney referral and community education. If you think you have experienced housing discrimination, the Fair Housing Center will take your complaint and let you know what your options are.

The Fair Housing Center of Southeastern Michigan
Fair housing laws are not self-enforcing. The NAACP-Ypsilanti/Willow Run, NAACP-Ann Arbor, and the Housing Law Reform project, along with community members concerned with civil rights, began work in 1989 to start an organization that actively protects the civil rights of those who are discriminated against in the rental, sale, or financing of housing. The Fair Housing Center opened in 1992.