Your Online Guide to Legal Information and Legal Services in Pennsylvania
Disability > Housing Discrimination and Fair Housing
Click on other tabs above for information about legal aid providers and courts in your area. Below is legal information on this sub-topic. You can localize this information by clicking on the"Choose Another Location" link in the right column and selecting the area where you live.
Pennsylvania Affordable Apartment Locator
(Separate Website)
The Apartment Locator was developed by Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency as a tool to link consumers to affordable housing options throughout the Commonwealth. It is intended to be an aid for consumers who are searching for affordable apartments and for property managers and developers who wish to market their affordable vacant units.
By: Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency
Petition to Waive Court Costs
Click the document title to be linked to LawHelp Interactive where you can prepare a Petition to Waive Court Fees which can be used to ask the Pennsylvania Court for permission to file legal papers for free. This form can be used in most types of court cases in Pennsylvania. Approval to waive fees is not automatic. You will need to ask the Court to approve your Petition. Instructions will be included. PLEASE NOTE: This is NOT a fill-in-the-blank form; you will need to answer questions while connected to the Internet.
IMPORTANT: To use this form, you must use Internet Explorer as your browser and Microsoft Word to print your documents.
By: North Penn Legal Services
Information from the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network
Housing Discrimination
(Separate Website)
Information about laws relating to housing discrimination.
By: Southwestern Pennsylvania Legal Services, Inc.
Request for Reasonable Accommodation
This form prepares a "Request for Reasonable Accommodation" for disabled tenants in Pennsylvania. You can send the request to a landlord, if you need changes to your rental unit or rental program because of your disability.
IMPORTANT: This is NOT a fill-in-the-blank form. To use this form, you must have Internet Explorer and Microsoft Word installed on the computer you are using.
By: North Penn Legal Services
Landlord Tenant Handbook
(Separate Website)
Detailed information about renting a residence from a landlord from North Penn Legal Services.
By: North Penn Legal Services
Discrimination and Erie Human Relations Commission (Audio-MP3)
Episode of Northwestern Legal Services' "Access to Justice" Radio show broadcast on JET 1400 AM in Erie, PA.
3-27-2008: Information regarding discrimination, specifically relating to education, housing and sexual orientation, how to file a complaint with the Erie (PA) Human Relations Commission. Host - Robert A. Oakley, Esq., NWLS Executive Director; Guest - Charlotte Scalise, Paralegal and Director of Erie Human Relations Commission.
By: Northwestern Legal Services
The Fair Housing Act: An Overview for People with Disabililties (PDF)
(Separate Website)
This Fact Sheet provides a brief overview of the rights and remedies afforded by the Fair Housing Act to people with disabilities.
By: Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania
Discriminatory Zoning and the Fair Housing Act (PDF)
(Separate Website)
This booklet is designed to acquaint people with disabilities, advocates, providers, and attorneys with the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 and, in particular, its impact on state and local zoning laws and land use regulations.
By: Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania
Reasonable Accommodations for Tenant Posing "Direct Threat" to Others (PDF)
(Separate Website)
This information sheet from Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law explores what constitutes a “direct threat” to others not requiring a reasonable accomodation, what kinds of behavior have triggered the exclusion in the past, and finally what circumstances will require a reasonable
accommodation despite a tenant’s admittedly threatening behavior.
By: Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania
Information from Bar Associations and Other Legal Organizations
Housing Discrimination
(Separate Website)
Information from the Erie County Bar Association
By: Erie County Bar Association
Discrimination
(Separate Website)
Information on discrimination in employment and housing from the Erie County Bar Association
By: Erie County Bar Association
Americans with Disabilities Act
(Separate Website)
Information on your rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
By: Erie County Bar Association
Housing Discrimination - Filing A Complaint
(Separate Website)
Information for those renting or home buyer a home who believe their rights have been violated. Details on fair housing complaints
By: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
The Fair Housing Act
(Separate Website)
Information on housing discrimination and the Fair Housing Act.
By: U.S. Department of Justice
Fair Housing--It's Your Right! (Closed Caption) (Video)
Watch this video to learn about HUD's Fair Housing Act and your fair housing rights.
By: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Fair Housing--It's Your Right
(Separate Website)
Description of the protection from housing discrimination offered by the Fair Housing Act.
By: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Early Termination Of A Lease
(Separate Website)
Information on protections in the Fair Housing law when a tenant develops a disability or the tenant's existing disability becomes more severe, the tenant may no longer be able to use his or her living space because it is not accessible to the tenant.
By: Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
Structural Modifications In Public And Section 8 Housing
(Separate Website)
Information on the Americans with Disabilities Act and structural modifications in public and Section 8 housing
By: Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
Neighbors Buying Property To Prevent The Establishment Of A Group Home
(Separate Website)
Information on legal issues related to neighbors who band together to buy a home in order to prevent persons with disabilities from living there.
By: Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
Using Reasonable Accommodations To Prevent Eviction
(Separate Website)
Information on where a reasonable accommodation may protect a disabled tenant against eviction.
By: Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
Disability Discrimination In The Housing Application And Screening Process
(Separate Website)
Information on issues surrounding discrimination in the housing application and screening process.
By: Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
Right To Emotional Support Animals In No Pet Housing
(Separate Website)
Information on the right of disabled persons to have emotional support animals In "No Pet" housing.
By: Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
Using Reasonable Accommodations To Eliminate Financial Barriers In Housing Applications
(Separate Website)
Information on using reasonable accommodations to eliminate financial barriers in housing applications.
By: Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
Reasonable Accommodations For Tenant Posing A "Direct Threat" To Others
(Separate Website)
This information sheet explores what constitutes a ?direct threat" and what circumstances will require a reasonable accommodation despite a tenant?s admittedly threatening behavior.
By: Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
Live-In Aides as Reasonable Accommodations Under the Fair Housing Act and Related Laws
(Separate Website)
Fair Housing Information Fact Sheet
By: Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
Allocating the Burden of Proof in Disability Cases Under the Fair Housing Act
(Separate Website)
This memorandum is meant to serve as a convenient desk reference for advocates who need immediate answers to burden-of-proof questions, particularly in the case of a clients who faces imminent eviction.
By: Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
Handling Fair Housing Act Disability Claims in the Context of an Imminent or Pending Eviction Action
(Separate Website)
Information on where to file a Fair Housing Act claim when eviction proceedings are pending in state court.
By: Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
Illegality of “Independent Living” Requirements
(Separate Website)
Information on the illegality of “Independent Living” requirements in rental housing, assisted living centers and continuing care retirement communities.
By: Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
Just Like Where You and I Live—Integrated Housing Options for People with Mental Illnesses
(Separate Website)
Information on community integration options for people with mental illnesses.
By: Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
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(Separate Website)
