Which of the following is true regarding filing a housing discrimination complaint?

• A. Complaints are filed with HUD
• B. Complaints are filed with the local police
• C. Complaints are handled by the real estate board
• D. Complaints are decided by the Federal Trade Commission

Answer: (A)

Discrimination in housing is addressed mainly by HUD under the Fair Housing Act. If you believe you’ve experienced discriminatory treatment in housing, you file a complaint with the Department of Housing and Urban Development. HUD will review the claim, may investigate, and can pursue conciliation or enforcement actions as needed. The local police aren’t the channel for housing-discrimination complaints, since their role is criminal enforcement rather than civil rights enforcement in housing. A real estate board handles professional standards for licensees, not the processing of discrimination complaints. The Federal Trade Commission’s focus is on unfair or deceptive trade practices, including some advertising issues, but it does not process housing-discrimination complaints as HUD does.