Working to Ensure Equal Housing Opportunity for All
Northwest Fair Housing Alliance’s mission is to support and promote equitable housing opportunities, eliminate housing discrimination, and ensure affordable and accessible housing in Washington State by providing education, outreach, counseling, research, advocacy, and consulting services about housing transactions, programs, and community development.
NWFHA supports thousands of households annually in 17 counties in E. WA with fair housing advocacy and counseling, including homeless prevention services. Most households served are living in poverty and include people who are seniors, refugees, immigrants, children, veterans, LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and/or have disabilities.
Help Fund civil rights!
- $1– 24: any amount aids our fight against housing discrimination
- $25 a month publishes fair housing ads
- $50 covers a 1-hour intake with a household in crisis
- $100 helps pay for tester investigations
- $250 supports a reasonable accommodation request for a person with a disability
- $500 enables advocacy for a fair housing claim
How We Support People
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Transfer To Ground Floor Unit: A resident with disabilities was referred to NWFHA by the Spokane Fire Department. The resident was living on the second floor in a non-elevator building and due to disabilities could no longer navigate stairs. For years the client had to call the Fire Dept. whenever she needed to leave her unit to assist her down the stairs. She often missed doctor appointments because the Fire Dept. was responding to emergency issues. NWFHA requested a reasonable accommodation on her behalf to transfer units to the ground floor. The property manager said they had an ADA unit available but they could not approve the transfer until the Housing Authority authorized it. The resident contacted the PHA many times but they did not respond. NWFHA assisted with contacting the PHA and they eventually authorized the transfer.
"Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for all you did to make this happen to us. It wouldn't happen without the help of the Spokane Fire Dept. and you that pushed through all the obstacles and helped us. Now we can enjoy our life and go out and not be isolated and imprisoned in our own home.”
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A Home That Meets Their Needs: A grandmother and her teenage grandson, both with disabilities, needed separate bedrooms to accommodate their individual health needs. Despite four previous attempts, the grandmother’s requests for accommodation to the public housing authority had been unsuccessful, leaving her feeling frustrated and unheard. Seeking support, she turned to NWFHA. NWFHA provided her with a sample verification letter for her healthcare provider, drafted a formal request for reasonable accommodation, and assisted with compiling documentation. Thanks to this collaboration, her voice was finally heard — the accommodations were granted and the path toward a living space that supports both her and her grandson’s well-being became possible.
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Reasonable accommodation: Before signing a lease at a LIHTC property, Jessica (name changed) requested a reasonable accommodation to be on the ground floor, due to disability needs. There were no ground floor units available and Jessica was told she would be placed on a waiting list. She took an apartment on the second floor to remain housed. During the first 3 months she fell on the stairs due to seizures and had to go to the hospital several times. When a ground floor apartment became available Jessica again requested a reasonable accommodation to transfer units. She was told that because she was in a 1-year lease she would have to wait. She was hopeless and didn’t know what to do. She contacted NWFHA, which on her behalf requested a reasonable accommodation to transfer to the available ground floor unit. Communication with the management company was difficult and the process of moving was challenging, as Jessica needed to update her required eligibility documentation and needed financial assistance to cover move-in costs. NWFHA staff supported Jessica to overcome these barriers, and eventually, she was able to move to the ground floor unit and signed a new lease.
"I never was the one to STAND UP for myself. If I was rejected, then so be it. Before I met Glenda. I figured everyone was against me, that I wasn’t worth helping yet alone help myself. But ever since I called fair housing alliance, thanks to Glenda's help and persuasion I gained confidence and esteem. She did everything in small steps so I could accomplish it and if I were wrong, we'd just move on to the next part until it was done. I couldn’t have done it without her! I feel like I have a valuable friend now. And I know I can call her if I need to thank a bunch. Thank you so much for your expertise in housing laws. Please keep helping others like you did to us, it's very much appreciated. This is the first time I didn't back down, and you helped show me I am worth it, and I can do it.”