Housing Discrimination Complaints & Assistance

Housing Discrimination Complaints

If you or someone you know feels discriminated against when renting, buying or selling a home due to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status or a disability, you may file a complaint with a state or federal agency to seek a remedy.

Filing a complaint with the State of Tennessee

On July 1, 2025, civil rights enforcement will transfer from the Tennessee Human Rights Commission to the Office of the Attorney General and Reporter (AG). On June 30, 2025, the Tennessee Human Rights Commission (THRC) will dissolve as a state agency. For any inquiries relating to complaints of discrimination in employment, public accommodations, and housing, or questions about additional civil rights resources, please contact the Civil Rights Enforcement Division of the Attorney General's Office on or after July 1, 2025.  

Phone: (615) 741-3491, Email: CRED@ag.tn.gov, Mail: P.O. Box 20207, Nashville, TN 37202

You may also visit the Attorney General’s Civil Rights Enforcement Division.

If you have a discrimination complaint that was dismissed by the THRC, you may re-file your complaint or file a private civil action pursuant to Tenn.Code Ann. § 4-21-1201, within 90 days of July 1, 2025. To refile complaints of discrimination, individuals can contact the Civil Rights Enforcement Division of the AG's Office on or after July 1, 2025.  

Filing a complaint with HUD’s Office of Fair Housing & Equal Opportunity (FHEO)

Anyone who feels discriminated against when renting, buying or selling a home may file a complaint with HUD. To learn how to file a complaint, visit HUD’s website.

HUD provides forms and information on filing a complaint in in English, Español, 中文, Tiếng Việt, 한국인, العربية, Русский, ខ្មែរ, and Soomaali. Complaints must be filed within one year of the alleged discriminatory act. HUD investigates alleged discrimination under the Fair Housing Act (including housing that is privately owned and operated) and alleged discrimination and other civil rights violations in housing and community development programs, including those funded by HUD.

Filing a complaint with THDA

Applicants to and participants of THDA managed programs who believe they have been denied a benefit or experienced some other negative action because of membership in a protected class (race, color, national origin, religion/creed, disability, sex/gender or familial status) may submit a complaint directly to THDA. Please complete THDA’s Discrimination Complaint form and send the form by email to lswanson@thda.org or mail to:

THDA
Attn: Civil Rights Compliance
Andrew Jackson Building, Third Floor
502 Deaderick St.
Nashville, TN 37243

For complaints involving THDA managed programs, THDA may initially investigate a discrimination complaint or may forward the complaint to THRC or HUD-FHEO for investigation and response. THDA is not an enforcement agency for Title VI, Fair Housing or the TN Human Rights Act; therefore, when a discrimination complaint is received THDA must always notify and coordinate the investigation and recommended actions with THRC or HUD-FHEO. All complaints that allege discrimination, but are not related to a THDA managed program, are forwarded to THRC or HUD-FHEO for investigation and response. Follow this link for THDA’s Discrimination Complaint procedures.

Retaliation

It is illegal for anyone to retaliate against a person for making a fair housing complaint to HUD or a housing provider/agency or for participating in the investigation. If you believe you have experienced retaliation, you can file a complaint following the process outlined above.

Assistance with Filing a Complaint

If you need help with filing a discrimination complaint, HUD funds housing organizations and other non-profits to assist people who believe they have been victims of housing discrimination through the Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP). FHIP organizations may assist individuals with filing a discrimination complaint with the appropriate state of federal agency. Tennessee has two FHIP agencies that may assist individuals with fair housing matters, Tennessee Fair Housing Council and West Tennessee Legal Services.

Tennessee Fair Housing Council

West Tennessee Legal Services

 

Title VI & Fair Housing Questions?

For questions about THDA’s Title VI procedures, compliance-related information or questions about filing a complaint, please email Laura Swanson, Title VI & Fair Housing Coordinator (615) 815-2127. For information on Section 504 and reasonable accommodation requests in THDA programs, email THDA Assistant Legal -Counsel, Charity Williams (615) 815-2029.

Resource Links