Gender (Sex) 

Gender (sex) discrimination under fair housing laws include treating someone differently due to their gender or sex. See our pages on Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation for more information.

The most common forms of gender discrimination in housing occur due to sexual harassment and policies impacting survivors of domestic violence, although other violations may also occur. Gender based housing discrimination can take many forms including:

• Being denied housing or a housing related service due to your gender.
• Having rules or policies applied differently to you due to your gender.
• Having a housing provider make sexually explicit comments to you; solicit you for sex or sexual favors in exchange for rent, deposits, to have repairs made, or to keep an eviction from happening.
• One-strike-you’re-out policies which unfairly impact survivors of domestic violence by keeping them from being able to reach out for help or assistance.

Domestic Violence and Assault:

• FHCCI Domestic Violence and Assault and Fair Housing Laws Fact Sheet:
  • English
  • Spanish
  • Burmese
• Government Guidance & Resources:
  • Justice Department Issues Letter to State and Local Police Departments and Governments Explaining that Certain Housing Programs May Violate Federal Law, August 15, 2024
  • HUD Guidance on Application of Fair Housing Act Standards to the Enforcement of Local Nuisance and Crime-Free Housing Ordinances Against Victims of Domestic Violence, Other Crime Victims, and Others Who Require Police or Emergency Services, September 13, 2016
  • U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Joint Statement Regarding Immigrant and Domestic Violence Survivor Access to Housing & Services, August 5, 2016
  • HUD Guidance on Home Lending and Appropriate Placement for Transgender Persons in Homeless Shelters, February 20, 2015
  • HUD Memo on Fair Housing Complaints and Domestic Violence, February 9, 2011
  • HUD VAWA Webpage
• Indiana Landlord/Tenant Law:
  • Indiana Code 32-31-9 (applicable domestic violence/sexual assault protections in housing)

Sexual Harassment: 

• Government Guidance & Resources:
  • HUD Webpage on Sexual Harassment (includes videos and online training)
  • HUD Fact Sheet: PREVENTING and ADDRESSING HARASSMENT in Housing
  • HUD Fact Sheet: Preventing and Addressing Sexual and Other Discriminatory Harassment in Housing
    • For PHA Executive Staff and Commissioners
    • For PHA Employees
    • For Private Housing Owners and Managers Participating in Voucher Programs
    • For Tenants of Public Housing and Voucher Programs
  • Quid Pro Quo and Hostile Environment Harassment and Liability for Discriminatory Housing Practices under the Fair Housing Act FINAL Rule, September 13, 2016
  • HUD Question & Answer on Sexual Harassment Under the Fair Housing Act, November 17, 2008
• Reports/Studies of Interest:
  • Sexual Harassment of Low-Income Women in Housing: Pilot Study Results, Rigel C. Oliveri, Summer 2018.