Housing Information

Here you can find information on the City's Housing programs. See the sidebar menu for information on:

Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and the CalHome ADU/JADU Loan Program
Affordable Housing Strategy and Affordable Housing Preservation Fund
Anti-Displacement Resources
Applying for Affordable Rental Housing
Below Market Rate (BMR) Housing Program and BMR Administration
East Palo Alto Opportunity to Purchase Act (EPA OPA)
Housing Element Update
Inclusionary Housing

Protecting Tenants from Source of Income-Based Discrimination

The City of East Palo Alto supports fair and equitable housing opportunities for all residents. There are state and local laws that protect your housing rights, including protection from source of income-discrimination.

California State law prohibits housing discrimination based on a person’s source of income (see California Government Code Section 12921(a)). Recent California legislation amends the existing Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA)  to clarify that housing vouchers, including but not limited to Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8) and Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH), are included within California’s prohibition on discrimination based on the source of income or income from rental assistance programs and to redefine sources of income received from federal, state, or local public or housing assistance programs, paid directly to a tenant, landlord, or housing owner as lawful verifiable income. (see SB 329 the Housing Opportunities Act of 2019).

Under East Palo Alto’s Municipal Code Chapter 14.16 - Income-Based Rental Housing Discrimination, it is unlawful for landlords or property owners to discriminate against tenants or prospective tenants based on their source of income. Whether you receive income from employment, rental assistance programs, or housing subsidies, you have the right to fair treatment in all housing transactions.

Key protections under the East Palo Alto Ordinance include:

Prohibiting discrimination in the rental or lease of housing based on lawful income sources.
Requiring equal consideration for income from rental assistance or subsidies.
Protecting tenants from unfair financial standards or false representations of housing availability.

For more detailed information, explore the California Civil Rights Department’s FAQ on Source of Income Discrimination.

What to Do if You Experience Discrimination

Suppose you believe you have been discriminated against based on your source of income. In that case, you may file for civil injunctive relief or seek civil liability damages, including potential compensation of up to three times your rent. Criminal penalties may also apply to violators, ensuring robust enforcement of tenant rights.

Learn more about your protections under Chapter 14.16 and how the City of East Palo Alto stands behind tenant rights. For additional assistance or to report discrimination, please contact our Housing Division.

What to Do if Your Fair Housing Rights Are Violated

If you believe your rights under state or local law have been violated, you have options:

File a Complaint with Local Organizations
- Contact legal aid organizations participating in the Fair Housing Initiative Program (FHIP) to file a complaint or to receive direct assistance.
- Find FHIP partners here.
Report Discrimination to the California Civil Rights Department
- Learn more and file a complaint through the California Civil Rights Department.
  - Submit a Complaint to California Civil Rights Department
  - Phone: 800-884-1684
File a complaint with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for federal-level enforcement.
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
- Phone: 800-347-3739 or (415) 489-6524
- File a complaint with HUD online.
Contact the City of East Palo Alto
- You can report violations locally through the City Attorney’s Office  or the Housing Division for further investigation and enforcement.