Housing discrimination - know your rights
Federal civil rights laws protect people with disabilities from discrimination in employment and housing. Substance Use Disorders are recognized by the courts as a disability and people with a SUD (addiction) are protected by these civil rights laws:
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973
The Fair Housing Act (FHA)
The Workforce Investment Act (WIA).
The Fair Housing Act (FHA) makes it illegal to discriminate in housing because of someone’s disability. People using medications to treat their Substance Use Disorder are protected from housing discrimination under the FHA.
Housing discrimination related to medications for Opioid Use Disorder is common but that doesn’t make it right. Individuals who live or want to live in halfway houses, recovery homes, or other residences for individuals in recovery and are excluded because of their methadone or suboxone use are the victims of illegal housing discrimination.
To learm more about your rights in housing , click on the links above and visit the following organization’s websites: