Protecting your Housing Rights: California’s Department of Fair Employment & Housing with Branden Butler

Welcome to Accessible Housing Matters!

 

In today’s episode, I welcome Branden Butler 

 

Branden Butler is the Assistant Deputy Director of Education and Outreach for the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH). Prior to joining DFEH in 2019, Branden was the Senior Attorney of the Fair Housing Center of the Legal Aid Society of San Diego, Inc. (LASSD), where for nine years he was instrumental in creating the first fair housing services program at LASSD that provides education, outreach, testing, and enforcement of fair housing laws.  Branden began his career as a Housing Advocate at Communities Actively Living Independent and Free, a disability rights organization in downtown Los Angeles where he advocated for housing rights for persons with disabilities. 

 

Listen to find out more about:

 

[00:01 - 04:20] Opening Segment

I welcome Branden Butler to the Show Bio Branden talks about his work at California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH)

 

[04:21 - 12:21] Protecting your Housing Rights

Housing Discrimination  Branden talks about housing discrimination complaints Fear of Retaliation and How to Deal with It Filing a Housing Discrimination Complaint Who is under the DFEH’s jurisdiction? Federal Housing Act Branden shares a farmer’s discriminatory experience

 

[12:22 - 20:19] Housing Discrimination

Source of Income Discrimination Branden talks about lending cases Complaints from People with Disabilities and Housing  Harassment Prevention Guide for California Housing Providers Branden shares their impactful action on a disability harassment case Housing Discrimination Cases in 2019

 

[20:20 - 22:40] California’s Department of Fair Employment & Housing

DFEH is the place to go Continued Education for Housing Providers Our Work is a Push and Pull Branden talks about DFEH’s resources in preventing housing discrimination

 

[22:41 - 27:40] The Next Step in Housing Discrimination

“We are always here for you.” Housing Discrimination: How to Report and Ask for Assistance The Process of Filing a Complaint There is due process and mediation

 

[27:41 - 31:51] Closing Segment

See links below to know more about Branden Butler Final word

Tweetable Quote/s:

 

“Housing is so scarce, they don’t want to lose their housing, they don’t want to fight it.” - Branden Butler

 

“There’s always gonna be that push and pull of having complete resources to do this.  That’s why I focus on my job so much on prevention.” - Branden Butler

 

You can connect with Branden through visiting https://www.dfeh.ca.gov/keepcaliforniafair/ and find out more about protecting your housing rights.

 

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Accessible Housing Matters is dedicated to raising awareness about important issues around accessibility and housing, and getting conversations going. I'd love to learn more about what's on your mind, and get your feedback about the show. Contact me directly at [email protected] to share your thoughts or arrange a call.