The City of Providence is committed to fair housing and equal opportunity for all citizens.
It is against state and federal law to discriminate in the…
• Sale
• Rental
• Financing of a purchase
• Financing of repairs; and
• Financing of services
…of housing to someone on the basis of race, color, religion, ancestral origin, sex, gender identity or expression, familial status (children under 18), marital status, disability (physical or mental), sexual orientation, veteran status, status as a victim of domestic violence, or housing status.
If you think your banker, landlord, or realtor has discriminated against you, you have been unjustly evicted or harassed, or if you would like to learn more about fair housing laws, please contact the Providence Human Relations Commission at 401-421-2489.
Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing
The Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) final rule was released by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in July 2015, to equip communities that receive HUD funding with the data and tools that will help them to meet long-standing fair housing obligations in their use of HUD funds. While this rule is currently suspended, the City of Providence and its regional partners have engaged in an extensive analysis of fair housing needs through the preparation of an Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing.
More information on HUD’s AFFH final rule can be found at:
https://www.huduser.gov
Federal Housing Administration
The Federal Housing Administration, generally known as “FHA,” provides mortgage insurance on loans made by FHA-approved lenders throughout the United States and its territories. FHA insures mortgages on single family and multifamily homes including manufactured homes and hospitals. It is the largest insurer of mortgages in the world, insuring over 34 million properties since its inception in 1934.
Click here for a history of the FHA.
Click here for more information and answers to frequently asked questions.
Section 3
Section 3 is a provision of the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Act of 1968 that helps foster local economic development, neighborhood economic improvement, and individual self-sufficiency. The Section 3 program requires that recipients of certain HUD financial assistance, to the greatest extent feasible, provide job training, employment, and contracting opportunities for low- or very-low income residents in connection with projects and activities in their neighborhoods. When contracts funded with federal funds (such as road or park construction) trigger the need to hire new workers, all contractors are instructed in their contract documents to give priority in any new hiring to low-income locals.
The City of Providence’s HUD-funded programs and projects also routinely seek bidders for construction, architectural, consulting, and deleading projects. You may receive preference in bidding if you are a qualified Section 3 business, or a registered Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), Women Business Enterprise (WBE), or Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE).
Click here for more information, such as finding who and what qualifies under Section 3.
Section 504
Section 504 provides that no qualified individual with a disability should, only by reason of his or her disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.
For more information, such as learning how to file a complaint, click here.
The City of Providence provides equal access to its services and offices. Services animals are welcome in its public facilities, and a TTY phone line (680-5220) is available for the hearing and/or speech impaired.
Click here for more information.
Limited English Proficiency (LEP)
The City of Providence provides translation services in six languages for its website and will provide translation services for public hearings for any request made with at least 48-hour notice.
The City is recently conducted an analysis of its services to the Limited English Proficient (LEP), and is generating a comprehensive report on activities that can be conducted to increase accessibility to City facilities, services, and information for individuals who have a limited ability to read, speak, write, or understand English.
