Resources and Links

Please note the Fair Housing Forum does not endorse any particular counsel or entity, but encourages housing providers and communities to fully research all educational and legal resources available to them and to seek professional legal counsel in anything that could create exposure to liability. We are happy to add additional professional resources as they are proposed to provide balanced perspective.

Accessibility

  • Idaho Access Project Board members and volunteers collaborate with a number of organizations and agencies in Idaho to create more accessible communities and experiences for all. They promote inclusive planning and design, recreation, visitable single-family development and retail that welcomes customers of all abilities.
  • Ramp Up Idaho This project aims to help small businesses remove barriers to accessibility through better awareness of existing technical and financial assistance.
  • Visitability.org Our goal is to make ALL homes visitable
  • Disability Action Center (DAC) Northwest Information, referral and advocacy involving independent living, accessibility and disability rights.
  • Easy Living Home a voluntary program that encourages easy access to homes for everyone. This program has been discontinued in Georgia; updates and lessons learned will be featured here in early 2011.
  • Fair Housing Accessibility First! has a HUD contract to provide fair housing training with an emphasis on FH Design and Construction Requirements. Toll-free Design and Construction Resource Center: (888) 341-7781 (V/TTY)
  • History of the Americans with Disabilities Act
  • Housingidaho.com Find or list rental properties. Fast. Easy. Free.
  • National Fair Housing Advocate Online “The National Fair Housing Advocate Online is a resource designed to serve both the fair housing advocacy community and the general public with timely news and information regarding the issues of housing discrimination. “
  • Section 504 HUD’s information on Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
  • The Center for Universal Design Universal Design principles apply to everything from built environments to telephones, tools and transportation.
  • The U.S. Access Board A resource for accessible design and construction information.
  • Viviendaidaho.com (en español) Busque o publique viviendas en alquiler. Rápido. Fácil. Gratis.

Civil Rights Defense

  • Cosho Humphry, LLP Attorneys have historically represented clients in all areas of law, with an emphasis on civil litigation, family law, landlord/tenant law, collections, and probate litigation.
  • Fair Housing Institute The Fair Housing Institute, Inc. (FHI), is a private, full-service training and consulting company whose mission is to educate and advise the housing industry about the economic and social benefits of fair housing and equal opportunity.
  • Idaho State Bar Online lawyer referral service, by category
  • Terry Kitay, attorney Ms. Kitay provides Fair Housing education and training, primarily for housing providers and specializes in Civil Rights law; primarily representing housing industry and providers with extensive experience in Idaho (founding partner, Fair Housing Institute now in private practice).
  • Eric M. Steven, P.S. Mr. Steven specializes in landlord/tenant law, evictions, and discrimination defense with an emphasis in Washington State counties east of the Cascades as well as Northern Idaho.

Note. Many Idaho and NW regional law firms are skilled in civil rights defense law; this list is not comprehensive and will be expanded as other providers are recommended and/or encountered.

Disabilities and Fair Housing

  • Delta Society Improving human health through service and therapy animals.
  • Disability Action Center (DAC) Northwest Information, referral and advocacy involving independent living, accessibility and disability rights.
  • Easy Living Home a voluntary program that encourages easy access to homes for everyone. This program has been discontinued in Georgia; updates and lessons learned will be featured here in early 2011.
  • HUD (Seattle office) Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Office
  • Intermountain Fair Housing Council Toll-free: (800) 717-0695
  • National Fair Housing Advocate Online “The National Fair Housing Advocate Online is a resource designed to serve both the fair housing advocacy community and the general public with timely news and information regarding the issues of housing discrimination. “
  • The Bazelon Center The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law is the leading national legal advocate for people with mental disabilities.

Filing a complaint

Idaho and Regional resources

Language and Cultural resources

  • Gary E. Hanes & Associates – Confidential limited English proficiency (LEP) consulting services for states, local agencies, private or nonprofit entities, and subrecipients that receive federal funds.
  • Boise Interpreters New web site to access various translators in the Treasure Valley.
  • National Fair Housing Advocate Online “The National Fair Housing Advocate Online is a resource designed to serve both the fair housing advocacy community and the general public with timely news and information regarding the issues of housing discrimination. “
  • Viviendaidaho.com (en español) Busque o publique viviendas en alquiler. Rápido. Fácil. Gratis.
  • Rainbow Welcome Initiative. LGBT Refugee resources and web site.
  • Language Line A large national translation/interpretive subscription service with readily available translators for many world languages.

Legal assistance

  • Cosho Humphry, LLP David Penny is a Boise attorney specializing in civil litigation including construction and landlord/tenant law. Mr. Penny represents the interests of clients (including housing providers) involved in business and real estate transactions or Civil Rights
  • Fair Housing Institute The Fair Housing Institute, Inc. (FHI), is a private, full-service training and consulting company whose mission is to educate and advise the housing industry about the economic and social benefits of fair housing and equal opportunity.
  • Idaho Legal Aid Services Toll Free: (866) 345-0106 . TDD/TTY: (800) 245-7573
  • Idaho State Bar Online lawyer referral service, by category
  • Idaho Volunteer Lawyers Program Providing access to legal services for low income people
  • NOLO Service designed to address legal issues in plain English. Free legal information, law books, legal software, and legal forms.
  • Terry Kitay, attorney Provides Fair Housing education and training, primarily for housing providers, specializing in Civil Rights law; primarily representing housing industry and providers (founding partner, Fair Housing Institute now in private practice).

National resources

Provider resources

  • Concrete Change* Concrete Change is now known simply as ‘Visitability.org’ Created by Eleanor Smith, it focuses on standards for ‘visitability’ in residential construction and helped promote the terms ‘home for life’ and ‘EasyLivingHome.’ See https://visitability.org/
  • Cosho Humphry, LLP David Penny is a Boise attorney specializing in civil litigation including construction and landlord/tenant law. Mr. Penny represents the interests of clients (including housing providers) involved in business and real estate transactions or Civil Rights
  • Fair Housing Council of Oregon Loads of practical information for all stakeholders. IMPORTANT! This link is not intended to provide guidance for Idaho stakeholders, but rather to showcase a really creative and interesting site.
  • Housingidaho.com Find or list rental properties. Fast. Easy. Free.
  • Idaho Affordable Housing Management Association (AHMA). Idaho AHMA is a 501(c)(3) non profit organization dedicated to strengthening affordable housing in Idaho through its commitment to continued education and training, timely industry communication, and strong membership representation.
  • Idaho Rental Owners and Managers Association (IROMA). IROMA is a non-profit trade association. IROMA member properties range from single family homes to large apartment communities in all price ranges.
  • Southwest Idaho Chapter: National Association of Residential Property Managers (NARPM®). Since 1988, NARPM® has provided a permanent trade organization for the residential property management industry. NARPM® continues to be the premier professional association of residential property managers, currently representing over 2000 members comprised of real estate agents, brokers, managers and their employees.
  • Idaho State Bar Online lawyer referral service, by category
  • Terry Kitay, attorney Ms Kitay provides Fair Housing education and training, primarily for housing providers and specializes in Civil Rights law; primarily representing housing industry and providers (founding partner, Fair Housing Institute now in private practice).
  • The Center for Universal Design Universal Design principles apply to everything from built environments to telephones, tools and transportation.
  • Viviendaidaho.com (en español) Busque o publique viviendas en alquiler. Rápido. Fácil. Gratis.

Tenant resources