The Housing and Civil Enforcement Section works to protect some of the most fundamental rights of individuals, including the right to access housing free from discrimination, the right to access credit on an equal basis, the right to patronize places of business that provide public accommodations and the right to practice one’s faith free from discrimination.
Report an incident of housing discrimination: 1-833-591-0291
Report sexual harassment in housing: 1-844-380-6178
Chief
Carrie Pagnucco
Contact
Tel: (202) 514-4713
Fax: 202) 514-1116
U.S. Department of Justice
Civil Rights Division
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Housing and Civil Enforcement Section, 4CON
Washington, D.C. 20530
the Fair Housing Act, which prohibits discrimination in housing,
the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, which prohibits discrimination in credit,
Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination in certain places of public accommodation, such as hotels, restaurants, nightclubs and theaters. The Department of Justice can bring a lawsuit under Title II when there is reason to believe that a person has engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination in violation of Title II. Individuals can also file suit to enforce their rights under Title II,
the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, which prohibits local governments from adopting or enforcing land use regulations that discriminate against religious assemblies and institutions or which unjustifiably burden religious exercise,
the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, which provides for the temporary suspension of judicial and administrative proceedings and civil protections in areas such as housing, credit and taxes for military personnel while they are on active duty,
and the Housing Rights subpart of the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022 (VAWA 2022), which provides certain housing protections for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking with respect to covered housing programs, and protects an individual’s right to seek law enforcement or emergency assistance without penalty when they are the victim or otherwise not at fault.
