 Did you know that the Fair Housing Act protects you from housing discrimination based upon race? It is illegal for housing providers such as landlords, property managers, real estate agents, mortgage lenders, and insurance companies to treat someone differently based on their race. Additionally, a housing provider may not discriminate against a person because they associate with people of a particular race. For example, a tenant cannot be treated differently because he or she has guests of a certain race. Often, housing providers try to disguise their discrimination by giving false information like saying that nothing is available or steering home seekers to certain areas based on race. Individuals who receive such false information are misdirectioned, may have no knowledge that they have been victims of discrimination. If you or someone you know believes that they have been discriminated against, please call 1-800-669-9777 or 1-800-877-8339 to speak with a Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Intake Specialist. You can also reach out to your local jurisdiction such as Lexington County Community Development, Richland County Community Development, or the City of Columbia's Office of Community Development.