HUD Launches First Fair Housing App

HUD unveiled the first housing discrimination mobile application (app) for iPhone and iPad on February 28, 2013.  Developed by HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) and Hewlett Packard (HP), the app uses the latest technology to provide the public with a quick and easy way to learn about their housing rights and to file housing discrimination complaints, and also informs the housing industry about its responsibilities under the Fair Housing Act in a convenient format.

“Having this first fair housing mobile application equips people everywhere with the information they need to combat housing discrimination,” said John Trasviña, HUD Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. “We are maximizing the latest technology to make the process for filing fair housing complaints faster and easier and arming our fair housing partners with the information they need to understand their fair housing rights and responsibilities.”

The app can also be used by individuals researching their housing rights after a natural disaster, when power outages make the iPhone/iPad one of the few ways to access the Internet.  It provides information about the fair housing complaint process, and allows the public to access HUD’s toll-free discrimination hotline and link to HUD’s fair housing website.

In conjunction with the fair housing mobile application, FHEO has released HTML 5 adaptive mobile pages (in English and Spanish) to allow web content to display properly regardless of the brand of smartphone or tablet being used. In addition, the adaptive mobile pages allow individuals to complete and submit the fair housing complaint form in Spanish.  FHEO also plans to design a “Quick Response code” ad campaign, directing mobile users to the new adaptive pages.

To get this housing discrimination app please visit the Apple App store.