The Fair Housing Project is committed to educating people in minority communities about their rights under the fair housing and fair lending laws, investigating complaints of fair housing discrimination, and providing pro bono (free) legal services to individuals and groups who wish to exercise their fair housing rights and secure equal housing opportunities. Working hand-in-hand with a talented and dedicated pool of pro bono attorneys from member firms, the Fair Housing Project is making a positive impact on housing availability in Chicago.

The Fair Housing Project litigates cases involving discrimination in rental, sales, mortgage lending and homeowners' insurance. Most recently, the Fair Housing Project has focused on discriminatory advertising and its impact on the housing market. Individuals and families seeking housing are often confronted by print and on-line advertisements that dissuade them from trying to rent from certain landlords or in certain neighborhoods. If you feel you have been discouraged from renting a particular apartment or unit, house, or room because of your race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or familial status (families living with minor children), please click here for more information.

Another key component of the Fair Housing Project is its Mortgage Discrimination and Insurance Redlining Program. This program works to improve access to the mortgage lending and homeowners insurance markets for all persons, regardless of race, national origin, or the demographics of neighborhoods. The Project's efforts include educating the public about its rights under the fair housing and fair lending laws, litigating discrimination cases against mortgage lenders and insurance providers, and "testing" for discriminatory practices used by lenders and insurance companies. As part of this HUD-funded program, the Fair Housing Project also produced a manual for attorneys involved with mortgage and insurance discrimination.

Fair housing work extends beyond litigation and community education. The Fair Housing Project works extensively with a network of grass-roots housing and community organizations on issues affecting minorities and poor people throughout the metropolitan region. The Chicago Lawyers' Committee is part of an area-wide network of fair housing organizations called CAFHA (Chicago Area Fair Housing Alliance).