Fair Housing Advocates of Northern California

What is FHANC?

Fair Housing Advocates of Northern California (FHANC) is a HUD certified, non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization founded with the purpose of ensuring equal housing opportunity through access and preservation of housing and promote diversity in our neighborhoods. We have been around for nearly 40 years. We serve tenants and homeowners, who have experienced discrimination based on their membership in a protected class in Marin, Solano, and Sonoma Counties (except the City of Petaluma.)

How does FHANC work?

The fight for fair housing began decades ago, but it is far from over. Many individuals still face housing discrimination. We work to address systemic barriers and discriminatory practices through fair housing outreach and education, investigation and enforcement, and advocacy. We also assist first-time homebuyers and distressed homeowners, who are at-risk of foreclosure.

Why do we need FHANC?

Imagine this:

You are a single parent with a Housing Choice Voucher (formerly called Section 8). You find the perfect home that is safe, decent, and close to your children's school. The landlord says, "We can't rent to you. We don't accept Section 8."

You are a person with a disability. You need a reasonable accommodation of a preferential parking space or reasonable modification of a strobe smoke alarm to make your apartment more accessible. The landlord says, "No or requires you to provide an authorization to release all medical information instead of accepting your doctor's medical note.

You are a person of color or a member of the LGBTQ+ community and you are given different terms to qualify for an apartment, discouraged from applying for an apartment, or told that the apartment is unavailable when you know that it is still being marketed for rent.

You are a first-time homebuyer. You know that you want to buy a house, but don't know where to start.

You are a homeowner. You are behind on your mortgage, because you had a financial hardship due to illness and now you are at risk of foreclosure.

These are a few examples of what we see and address on a regular basis. 

How can you help FHANC?

Give a gift of $50 or whatever you are able to give; share this page with friends, family, and anyone that wants to help residents of Solano County; and check with your employer to see if they will match your gift.

You can also help us by signing up for our mailing list; sharing our bi-annual newsletters; contacting your elected officials to support housing legislation; liking and sharing our posts on social media; and volunteering at our agency, as volunteer opportunities arise.