Sexual Harassment in Housing
Did you know the Fair Housing Act and other federal laws prohibit sexual harassment? Keep reading to learn more about your rights, or you can jump to a section from the menu below:
Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Protections
What to do if it happens to you
Disclaimer: If you are in danger, please call 911 or a national hotline. SSHC is not a direct service provider and does not provide individual counseling, crisis response, or legal services to individuals who have experienced domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and/or human trafficking.
What is Fair Housing?
Fair housing laws protect individuals from housing discrimination based on their protected class status, such as race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status, and disability. Fair Housing protects people from discrimination when engaging in housing-related activities, including renting or buying a home, getting a mortgage, seeking housing assistance, or engaging in other housing-related activities. Check out our Brochures, Flyers, and More to read about specific protections.
What is Sexual Harassment?
Sexual harassment in housing is a form of sex discrimination prohibited by the Fair Housing Act. There are two main types of sexual harassment:
Quid Pro Quo occurs when a housing provider requires a person to submit to an unwelcome request to engage in sexual conduct as a condition of obtaining or maintaining housing or housing-related services. Examples include:
- A landlord tells an applicant he won’t rent her an apartment unless she has sex with him.
- A property manager evicts a tenant after she refuses to perform sexual acts.
- A maintenance man refuses to make repairs unless a tenant gives him nude photos of herself.
Hostile Environment sexual harassment occurs when a housing provider subjects a person to severe or pervasive unwelcome sexual conduct that interferes with the sale, rental, availability, or terms, conditions, or privileges of housing or housing-related services, including financing. Examples include:
- A landlord subjects a tenant to severe or pervasive unwelcome touching, kissing, or groping.
- A property manager makes severe or pervasive unwelcome, lewd comments about a tenant’s body
- A maintenance man sends a tenant a severe or pervasive unwelcome, sexually suggestive text and enters her apartment without invitation or permission.
Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Protections
The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) is a federal law that includes housing protections for people applying for or residing in units subsidized by the federal government and who have experienced domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. To learn more about VAWA, visit HUD.gov.
What to do if it happens to you
If you experience sexual harassment from your housing provider or anyone associated with your housing such as a property manager, owner, landlord, or maintenance person, contact your local fair housing agency to learn your rights.
South Suburban Housing Center is the regional fair housing enforcement agency serving south metropolitan Chicago including south Cook, Will, and Kankakee Counties in Illinois and Lake County, Indiana. We also serve underserved areas of Central Illinois that request our assistance.
Contact South Suburban Housing Center:
Call our Intake Line: (708) 957-4674 ext. 112
Submit a Contact Us form on our website
Email us at sshc.contact@gmail.com
Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline: 877-863-6338
Indiana Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-332-7385