Fair Housing

Overview

The Kaua‘i County Housing Agency administers federal housing programs funded by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and is committed to eliminating racial and ethnic segregation and other discriminatory practices in housing, and will use all state and federal programmatic and enforcement tools available to achieve this goal. The fundamental goal of the Department's fair housing policy is to make housing choice a reality.

It is unlawful for an owner, landlord, real estate company, broker, sales person, or any other person engaged in a real property transaction to treat persons unequally because of that person's:

  • race
  • sex
  • disability
  • familial status
  • religion
  • color
  • age
  • ancestry / national origin
  • marital status
  • HIV status
  • sexual orientation
  • gender identity or expression

If you feel you have been discriminated against for housing or need more information, contact:

Steve Franco at 808-241-4419.

Analysis of Impediments with a Focus on People with Disabilities

In April of 2020, the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization published an Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing for:

Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Authority
State of Hawaii Department of Hawaiian Home Lands
State of Hawaii Department of Human Services
Hawaii Public Housing Authority
City and County of Honolulu Department of Community Services
Hawaii County Office of Housing and Community Development
Kauai County Housing Agency
Maui County Department of Housing and Human Concerns

The Analysis of Impediments is a review of a jurisdiction's laws, regulations, and administrative policies, procedures, and practices affecting the location, availability, and accessibility of housing, as well as an assessment of conditions, both public and private, affecting fair housing choice.

The Analysis of Impediments is available through the following links:

Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing for Kauai County(PDF, 406KB)

More Information

Who is protected?

In order to be protected you must be part of a "protected class."

Federal Protected Classes:

  • Race
  • National Origin (Ethnic Background)
  • Color
  • Sex
  • Religion
  • Disability

State of Hawaii Protected Classes:

  • Age
  • Sexual Orientation
  • Gender Identity Expression
  • HIV Status
  • Familial Status
  • Marital Status

What is Prohibited?

In brief, the following actions on the basis of "protected class," are prohibited:

In the Sale and Rental of Housing:

  • Refuse to rent or sell housing
  • Refuse to negotiate for housing
  • Make housing unavailable
  • Deny a dwelling
  • Set different terms, conditions or privileges for sale or rental of a dwelling
  • Provide different housing services or facilities
  • Falsely deny that housing is available for inspection, sale, or rental
  • For profit, persuade owners to sell or rent (blockbusting) or
  • Deny anyone access to or membership in a facility or service (such as a multiple listing service) related to the sale or rental of housing.

In Mortgage Lending:

  • Refuse to make a mortgage loan
  • Refuse to provide information regarding loans
  • Impose different terms or conditions on a loan, such as different interest rates, points, or fees
  • Discriminate in appraising property
  • Refuse to purchase a loan or
  • Set different terms or conditions for purchasing a loan.

In addition, it is illegal for anyone to:

  • Threaten, coerce, intimidate or interfere with anyone exercising a fair housing right or assisting others who exercise that right
  • Advertise or make any statement that indicates a limitation or preference based on a "Protected Class.". This prohibition against discriminatory advertising applies to single-family and owner-occupied housing that is otherwise exempt from the Fair Housing Act.

Additional Protection for Persons with Disabilities

If you or someone associated with you...

  • Have a physical or mental disability (including hearing, mobility and visual impairments, chronic alcoholism, chronic mental illness, AIDS, AIDS Related Complex and mental retardation) that substantially limits one or more major life activities
  • Have a record of such a disability or
  • Are regarded as having such a disability

your landlord may not...

  • Refuse to let you make reasonable modifications to your dwelling or common use areas, at your expense, if necessary for the disabled person to use the housing. (Where reasonable, the landlord may permit changes only if you agree to restore the property to its original condition when you move.)
    Example: An apartment complex that offers tenants ample, unassigned parking must honor a request from a mobility-impaired tenant for a reserved space near her apartment if necessary to assure that she can have access to her apartment.
  • Refuse to make reasonable accommodations in rules, policies, practices or services if necessary for the disabled person to use the housing.
    Example: A building with a "no pets" policy must allow a visually impaired tenant to keep a guide dog.

For further information contact Fair Housing Staff

Jocelyn Marie at 241-1977, email: jmarie@kauai.gov

Fair Housing Compliance

The Fair Housing Office advocates for compliance with the following:

  • Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 This Act provides that no person shall be excluded from participation, denied program benefits, or subject to discrimination based on race, color, and/or national origin under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.
  • Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (The Fair Housing Act) This Act prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of race, color, religion, sex and/or national origin. This law also requires actions which affirmatively promotes fair housing.
  • Restoration Act of 1987 This Act restores the broad scope of coverage and clarifies the application of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It also specifies that an institution which receives Federal financial assistance is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, or age in a program or activity which does not directly benefit from such assistance.
  • Section 109 of Title 1 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 This section of Title 1 provides that no person shall be excluded from participation (including employment), denied program benefits, or subject to discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, or sex under any program or activity funded in whole or in part under Title I of the Act.
  • The Fair Housing Amendment Act of 1988 This Act amended the original Fair Housing Act to provide for the protection of families with children and people with disabilities, strengthen punishment for acts of housing discrimination, expand of the Justice Department jurisdiction to bring suit on behalf of victims in Federal district courts, and create an exemption to the provisions baring discrimination on the basis of familial status for those housing developments that qualify as housing for persons age 55 or older.
  • The Housing for Older Persons Act of 1995 (HOPA) Retained the requirement that the housing must have one person who is 55 years of age or older living in at least 80 percent of its occupied units. The Act also retained the requirement that housing facilities publish and follow policies and procedures that demonstrate intent to be housing for persons 55 and older.
  • The Age Discrimination Act of 1975 This Act provides that no person shall be excluded from participation, denied program benefits, or subject to discrimination on the basis of age under any program or activity receiving Federal funding assistance. Effective January 1987, the age cap of 70 was deleted from the laws.
  • Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 It is unlawful to discriminate based on disability in Federally assisted programs. This section provides that no otherwise qualified individual shall, solely by reason of his or her disability, be excluded from participation (including employment), denied program benefits, or subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal funding assistance. Section 504 also contains design and construction accessibility provisions for multi-family dwellings developed or substantially rehabilitated for first occupancy on or after March 13, 1991.
  • The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) This Act modifies and expands the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to prohibit discrimination against "a qualified individual with a disability" in employment and public accommodations. The ADA requires that an individual with a physical or mental impairment who is otherwise qualified to perform the essential functions of a job, with or without reasonable accommodation, be afforded equal employment opportunity in all phases of employment.
  • Executive Order 11063 This Executive Order provides that no person shall be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in housing and related facilities provided with Federal assistance and lending practices with respect to residential property when such practices are connected with loans insured or guaranteed by the Federal government.
  • Executive Order 11259 This Executive Order provides that the administration of all Federal programs and activities relating to housing and urban development be carried out in a manner to further housing opportunities throughout the United States.
  • Section 109 of Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 Requires that no person shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity funded with CDBG funds on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, or sex.
  • Section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968, as amended Requires the provision of opportunities for training and employment that arise through HUD-financed projects to lower-income residents of the project area, to the greatest extent feasible and consistent with Federal, State and local laws and regulations. Also required is that contracts be awarded to businesses that provide economic opportunities for low- and very low-income persons residing in the area. Amendments to Section 3 in 1992 included requirements for providing these opportunities in contracts for housing rehabilitation, including lead-based paint abatement, and other construction contracts.
  • Executive Order 11246 This Executive Order applies to all Federally assisted construction contracts and subcontracts. It provides that no person shall be discriminated against on the basis of race.
  • 24 CFR Part 85 (the Common Rule) This rule provides that the grantee shall take affirmative steps to encourage contracting with small minority and female owned business enterprises when possible as sources of supplies, equipment, construction, and services.
  • Violence Against Women Act and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005 This Act provides legal protections to victims of domestic violence, dating violence or stalking. These protections prohibit owners and management agents from evicting or terminating assistance from individuals being assisted under a project-based Section 8 program if the asserted grounds for such action is an instance of domestic violence, dating violence or stalking.
  • Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS) Chapter 103-50 Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, all plans and specifications for the construction of public buildings, facilities, and sites, funded by the State, or any County, shall be prepared so that the buildings, facilities, and sites are accessible to and usable by persons with disabilities. The buildings, facilities, and sites shall conform to the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines, Title 36 Code of Federal Regulations Part 1191, and the requirements of the Federal Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988, as established in Title 24 Code of Federal Regulations Part 100, Subpart D, as adopted and amended by the disability and communication access board under chapter 348F. Such agencies shall seek review by the State of Hawaii's Disability and Communication Access Board (DCAB) to ensure conformance with the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines and Federal Fair Housing Act Guidelines.
  • Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS) Chapter 368 The legislature finds and declares that the practice of discrimination because of race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, ancestry, or disability in employment, housing, public accommodations, or access to services receiving state financial assistance is against public policy.
  • Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS) Chapter 515 It is a discriminatory practice for an owner or any other person engaging in a real estate transaction, or for a real estate broker or salesperson, because of race, sex, including gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, color, religion, marital status, familial status, ancestry, disability, age, or human immunodeficiency virus infection.
  • Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR) §12-46-301 – 318 The purpose of this subchapter is to implement laws prohibiting discrimination in real property transactions toward the goal of eliminating such discrimination and to implement changes made by Act 171, Session Laws of Hawaii 1992, to conform state law to Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, as amended by the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988. Chapter 515, HRS, prohibits discriminatory practices by an owner, any person engaging in a real property or real estate transaction, or a real estate broker or salesperson against another person because of a protected basis.

Legal Disclaimer

This webpage is provided by the County of Kauaʻi's Fair Housing Office for general information and educational purposes only. Nothing on this webpage may be considered or deemed to constitute legal advice. Due to the rapidly changing nature of the law, information may become outdated. Thus, the information presented should not be utilized by lawyers as a substitute for independent research or by non-lawyers as a substitute for legal or other advice.