Fair Housing & MaineHousing
General Fair Housing Information
Federal and state laws give you a right to fair housing. This means you have the right to be free from discrimination in the sale, rental, advertising or financing of housing. According to fair housing laws, you cannot be discriminated against because of race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, familial status, or receipt of public assistance.
Discrimination means any action, omission or decision that results in restricting your choice of housing and access to housing assistance.
Learn more about state fair housing and equal access laws from the
Maine Human Rights Commission. They are the state agency responsible for enforcing Maine’s fair housing laws.
Learn more about federal fair housing and equal access laws from the
Office of Fair Housing & Equal Opportunity at the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development. They are the federal agency responsible for enforcing federal fair housing laws.
Disability Rights
Federal and state laws provide certain rights and protections for people with disabilities, including people with mental and physical disabilities. This means you cannot be discriminated against because of your disability. The laws also require housing providers to make reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities in policies, procedures and programs. The laws also require housing providers to allow people with disabilities to make reasonable changes so they can fully enjoy their housing and related facilities. The laws also require multifamily housing to be designed and constructed to comply with certain accessibility standards.
Learn more about Maine’s disability rights laws and accessibility standards from the Maine Human Rights Commission.
Learn more about federal disability rights laws and accessibility standards.
Federal Fair Housing Act relating to all housing and programs
Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 relating to federally-assisted housing and programs
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 relating to federally-assisted housing and programs
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the U.S. Department of Justice’s ADA
and a list of ADA publications
Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 relating to programs, services and activities provided or made possible by State and local governments – summary of Title II requirements.
Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 relating to public accommodations – for a summary of Title III requirements.
Learn more about reasonable accommodations
Learn more about reasonable accommodations
For more information and resources
For consumer guides to disability rights laws prepared by the United States Department of Justice and prepared by Disability Rights Center of Maine.
For the Federal government’s website on disability-related information and resources
For the State’s website on disability-related information and resources
For Alpha One’s website
For Access Maine’s website
For Disability Rights Center of Maine’s website
Limited English Proficiency
Federal law requires organizations that get federal funds to make reasonable efforts to give translation help to people who do not speak or read English well. This helps make sure people who don’t speak or read English well can get what they need from programs and services. This is for people who do not speak English as their primary language. It also is for people who do not speak, read, write or understand English well.
Learn more about Federal LEP requirements
To File a Complaint
Learn more about the State’s fair housing complaint process
Learn more about HUD’s fair housing complaint process
Learn more about the ADA Title II complaint process for discrimination against persons with disabilities relating to State and local government services and assistance see the complaint form.
Learn more about the ADA Title III complaint process for discrimination against persons with disabilities relating to public accommodations
Advocacy Groups and Legal Resources
Pine Tree Legal Assistance
Augusta, 39 Green Street
Tel: 207-622-4731 or 207-623-7777 or 207-623-7770 (TTY)
Bangor, 61 Main Street
Tel: 207-942-8241 or 207-942-1060 (TTY)
Lewiston, 37 Park Street, Suite 401
Tel: 207-784-1558
Machias, Route 1 and Old County Road
Tel: 207-255-8656 or 207-255-6179 (TTY)
Portland, 88 Federal Street
Tel: 207-774-8211 or 207-828-2308 (TTY)
Presque Isle, 373 Main Street
Tel: 207-764-4349 or 207-764-2453 (TTY)
Farmworker & Native American Units – Bangor
Tel: 207-942-0673
Multi-lingual Language Line
Tel: 207-774-8211
Maine Volunteer Lawyers Project
Tel: 1-800-442-4293
Maine Equal Justice Project
Tel: 207-626-7058
Disability Rights Center
Statewide Hotline, Tel. 1-800-452-1948 (V/TTY)
For information about other advocacy groups in Maine
Fair Housing Training for Partners
MaineHousing is offering a free Understanding of Fair Housing training program. This program is on demand and self-paced. It is available through our online learning portal.
MaineHousing Nondiscrimination Policy
MaineHousing does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, age, familial status or receipt of public assistance in the admission or access to or treatment in its programs and activities. In employment, MaineHousing does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability or genetic information. MaineHousing will provide appropriate communication auxiliary aids and services upon sufficient notice. MaineHousing will also provide this document in alternative formats upon sufficient notice. MaineHousing has designated the following person responsible for coordinating compliance with applicable federal and state non discrimination requirements and addressing grievances: Lauren Bustard, Maine State Housing Authority, 26 Edison Drive, Augusta, Maine 04330-4633, Telephone Number 1-800-452-4668 (voice in state only), (207) 626-4600 (voice) or Maine Relay 711.
©2022 MaineHousing. All Rights Reserved.
MaineHousing does not support or endorse external links.
EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY
26 Edison Drive, Augusta Maine 04330
(800) 452-4668 | (207) 626-4600
Fax: (207) 626-4678 | Maine Relay 711
Maine’s HMIS Notice of Privacy Practices
This Agency (Name: Waldo Community Action Partners (WCAP) and other service providers, homeless agencies and social service agencies, including street outreach, shelters and housing programs, collect personal information about the people we serve in a computer system called Maine’s Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). If Agency is a HIPAA covered entity, this HMIS Notice of Privacy Practices is a supplement to Agency’s HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices, and you should also review Agency’s HIPAA Notice for additional information about how Agency protects the privacy and security of your protected health information. This HMIS Notice of Privacy Practices may be amended at any time and an amendment may affect information given to the Agency prior to the amendment.
Why do we collect this information?
• So we know how many people we serve and the types of people we serve at our Agency and in the state.
• So we all understand what people need and can plan services to meet those needs.
• To satisfy U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development requirements.
Who can see information that is in Maine’s HMIS?
• People who work for this Agency will use it to help provide services to you or your family.
• Other agencies like this Agency that provide services and have received permission from you to see your information. The agencies that participate in Maine’s HMIS may change from time to time. A copy of the current list of participating agencies is available upon request or on our website: www.mainehmis.org.
• Auditors or funders who have legal rights to review the work of this Agency, such as the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and other state or local government entities.
• Organizations that run, administer, and work, on the HMIS system. When these organizations work on the system, they may see information about you. They are required to protect your confidential information.
• The law says we have to report physical or sexual abuse of children and vulnerable adults. If we have cause to suspect that there is abuse or neglect in your household, we must report it to Child or Adult Protection.
• We may disclose your information to protect the health or safety of you or others as required by law.
• Others as required by law, including officials with a valid subpoena, warrant, or court order.
• We may disclose your information to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to the health or safety of an individual or the public
We will not disclose your information for any other use unless you permit us in writing.
How is your privacy protected?
• All users of HMIS data must sign an agreement to protect your privacy and comply with state and federal laws and policies before seeing any information.
• The HMIS computer program used for this purpose has industry standard security safeguards and protocols and is updated regularly to meet these security requirements.
What are your rights?
• If you do not want your name, social security number, or date of birth entered in HMIS, tell the intake worker. This Agency will not refuse to help you if you refuse to authorize Agency to share your information with other providers/ agencies through HMIS. However, federal and state regulations may require limited data collection for funding purposes.
• You have the right to request a copy of Maine’s HMIS information about you.
• You have the right to correct mistakes in HMIS information about you.
• If you think this Agency or Maine’s HMIS violated your privacy rights, you have the right to complain or appeal. Ask a staff person for a complaint and appeal form. If Agency is a HIPAA covered entity, see Agency’s HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices for information about how to file a HIPAA privacy complaint.