Fair Housing for Survivors Act of 2026

The "Fair Housing for Survivors Act of 2026" aims to extend critical protections to individuals who have experienced domestic violence, sexual assault, or severe forms of trafficking in persons. This legislation achieves its primary goal by amending the Fair Housing Act to include these survivors as a new protected class , thereby prohibiting discrimination against them in various housing-related activities. Specifically, the bill makes it unlawful to discriminate in the sale, rental, advertising, financing, or provision of brokerage services for housing based on an individual's status as a survivor. It defines key terms like "domestic violence," "sexual assault," and "severe forms of trafficking in persons" by referencing established federal laws. Furthermore, the Act clarifies that programs designed to assist survivors in finding and maintaining housing are permissible and not considered discriminatory. The legislation also amends Title IX of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 to prevent intimidation, threats, or coercion against survivors seeking to exercise their housing rights. Importantly, it ensures that these new protections do not limit a survivor's ability to pursue other claims of discrimination under the Fair Housing Act, such as those related to gender stereotypes or policies that disproportionately affect women.