Equal Opportunity
Fair Housing Law
Fair Housing Strategy
Fair Housing Complaint
Support for Non-English Speakers
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The Town of Spencer provides information for the community concerning Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity.
Click on the links or scroll the sections below for information on compliance and assistance.
Mayor & Board of Aldermen
Fair Housing Strategy
Fair Housing Complaint
Support for Non-English Speakers
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Fair Housing Law
The Town of Spencer follows all federal statutes and regulations prohibiting discrimination in its administration of federal funds, including, but not limited to, the Fair Housing Act, Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968.
The Fair Housing Act declares that it is the policy of the United States to provide, within constitutional limitations, for fair housing throughout the United States. The Act prohibits, among other things, discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of dwellings, and in other housing-related transactions, because of race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin, or disability.
If any of the following has happened to you, you may have been illegally denied your right to fair housing:
- You are told a house or apartment is not available when it really is.
- A property manager refuses to rent an apartment to a single woman, but he will rent the apartment to a single man.
- You are denied the right to rent or buy a house or apartment because you have children, or you are told your family is too large.
- A landlord refuses to rent to you because you are physically disabled or refuses to make reasonable changes in the lease to enable you to use and enjoy your home comfortably, such as by installing a wheelchair ramp or widening doorways.
- Because of your skin color, a bank or other lending institution refuses to lend you money to buy real estate, or the institution changes the requirements for lending you money.
For more information about your rights under the Fair Housing Act, you can review any of these resources:
Spencer’s Fair Housing Strategy
The Town of Spencer has adopted a Fair Housing Strategy to accomplish the following goals:
- To improve public awareness of the Fair Housing Act, including the rights of renters and the responsibilities of landlords, realtors, sellers, and bankers.
- To connect the public with easily accessible resources and information about fair housing laws.
- To establish a contact and referral system for individuals seeking housing assistance or who wish to submit a fair housing complaint.
- To ensure Town staff can assist individuals seeking housing resources.
For more information on Spencer’s Fair Housing Strategy, you can read the full plan online here. Or, you can request a hard copy at the Town Hall Front Desk, 460 South Salisbury Avenue, Spencer NC 28159.
Submit a Fair Housing Complaint
Any person or persons wishing to file a complaint of housing discrimination in the Town of Spencer may do so by informing the Town of the facts and circumstances of the alleged discriminatory acts or practice. Please contact: Peter Franzese, Town Manager, Town of Spencer, 460 South Salisbury Avenue, Spencer NC 28159, 704-633-2231, pfranzese@spencernc.gov.
Upon receiving a housing discrimination complaint, the Town of Spencer shall acknowledge the complaint within 10 days of writing and inform the Division of Community Assistance and the North Carolina Human Relations Commission about the complaint.
The Town of Spencer shall offer assistance to the Commission in the investigation and reconciliation of all housing discrimination complaints which are based on events occurring in the Town.
Alternatively, persons wishing to file a complaint of housing discrimination may choose instead to use an external resource, such as:
- The U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division
- US. Department of Housing and Urban Development
- North Carolina Real Estate Commission
Support for Non-English Speakers
In order to avoid discrimination on the grounds of national origin, all programs or activities administered by the Town of Spencer will take reasonable steps to ensure that persons with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) have meaningful access and an equal opportunity to participate in the benefits and services for which such persons qualify.
In Spencer, the predominant non-English language is Spanish. If you or someone you know speaks Spanish as their primary language, and does not speak English proficiently, you have the right to an interpreter at no cost to you. You also have the right to request translations of vital documents.
If you have difficulty understanding English for any reason, free language assistance or other aids and services are available upon request. Please contact: Peter Franzese, Town Manager, Town of Spencer, 460 South Salisbury Avenue, Spencer NC 28159, 704-633-2231, pfranzese@spencernc.gov.
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Usted tiene derecho a un intérprete gratis. Si tiene dificultades para entender la lengua inglesa o presenta una discapacidad, puede solicitar asistencia lingüística y otros tipos de ayuda y servicios sin coste alguno. Llame al siguiente número de teléfono: Peter Franzese, administrador de la ciudad, 704-633-2231, pfranzese@spencernc.gov.
Ciudad de spencer cumple con las leyes federales de derechos civiles aplicables y no discrimina por motivos de raza, color, nacionalidad, edad, discapacidad o sexo.