Discrimination and Fair Housing – Housing & Community Development Department

Regional Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice

Every five years the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires participating jurisdictions to provide an Analysis of Impediments (AI) to Fair Housing Choice. For the 2025-29 AI, Alameda County, as lead agency, and multiple participating jurisdictions— the cities of Alameda, Albany, Berkeley, Dublin, Emeryville, Fremont, Hayward, Livermore, Newark, Oakland, Piedmont, Pleasanton, San Leandro, and Union City; the housing authorities for the cities of Alameda, Berkeley, Livermore, and Oakland; and the Housing Authority of the County of Alameda— have formed a regional collaborative for the purpose of completing a Regional Analysis of Impediments (AI) to Fair Housing Choice to meet the HUD requirement. Recommended actions for identified impediments will be provided for the county as a whole, and for each individual jurisdiction.

To provide input into fair housing, please take our 10 minute survey: https://bit.ly/acfairhousing24

Or Join Us for our Community Meeting Series, dates and times are at this link: Meeting Flyer. These are a series of in-person and virtual meetings across the county to discuss the draft report findings and proposed actions. All community members are welcome; zoom registration here: bit.ly/aczoom24.

The Analysis of Impediments provides: 1) an overview of laws, regulations, and administrative policies and procedures; 2) an assessment of how those laws affect the location, availability, and accessibility of housing; and 3) an assessment of conditions, both public and private, affecting fair housing choice 4) recommended actions that address such impediments in a 5-year Fair Housing Action Plan.

The purpose of the AI Study is to identify and evaluate potential obstacles or impediments, in both the private and public sector, to a person’s ability to choose their residence free from discrimination. Impediments to fair housing choice are defined as any actions, omissions, or decisions taken because of race, color, sex, disability, familial status or national origin that restrict housing choices or the availability of housing choice; or any actions, omissions or decisions that have this effect. The past AI covers July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2024 and has been submitted to HUD as required. Click here to access an executive summary of the report from 2019.

Fair Housing Services

Alameda County Housing and Community Development Department (HCD) funds ECHO Housing to provide Fair Housing Services to tenants and landlords in the cities of Albany, Dublin, Emeryville, Newark, and Piedmont, and all areas of the Unincorporated County. Are you a tenant or trying to rent housing in one of these areas?

Have you received an eviction notice?
Have you had trouble getting repairs completed?
Have you experienced discrimination in housing because of your race, ethnic origin, marital status, sex, religion, arbitrary reason (i.e. sexual orientation, source of income)?
Have disputes between tenants and landlords escalated to the point where mediation is needed?
Have you moved recently but haven’t received your security deposit back?
Have you experienced discrimination in housing because you have children in your household, or because you have a disability?
Do you need information about your rights and responsibilities?

ECHO Housing can help you resolve the problems above, help you to determine whether you have been discriminated against, and what to do if you have been, as well as assist with other fair housing and tenant/landlord issues.

If you are a landlord or property manager and have questions on these issues, ECHO can also provide you with information.

If you are living in one of the other cities in the County and would like to learn more about fair housing programs, please see the relevant city website. (pdf)

Find more information about Fair Housing. (pdf)

Get Assistance from HUD (multi-lingual website)

People who feel they are a victim of housing, loan servicing or lending discrimination can also contact HUD.