Effingham — Ch. 17 Art. VI Fair Housing § 17-161
Discrimination in financing housing
Operative Text
(a) Discrimination against applicant directly. It shall be unlawful for any financial institution to discriminate against any applicant on the basis of his race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, or physical or mental handicap with respect to: (1) The approval/provision of any loan or other financial assistance for the purpose of purchasing, constructing, improving, repairing, or maintaining any dwelling; or (2) Any term or condition of said loan/financial assistance including, but not limited to, loan amount, down payment, earnest money, duration of loan, interest rate, and/or closing costs. (b) Discrimination against applicant's associates, red-lining: (1) The applicant's personal or business associates; (2) Any person having any interest in the dwelling or financial transaction in question; (3) The present or prospective occupants of said dwelling; or (4) The present or prospective residents of the neighborhood in which said dwelling is located.
Effingham Ch. 17 Art. VI Fair Housing § 17-161 prohibits financial institutions from treating loan or financing applicants differently based on race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, or physical or mental handicap. The prohibition covers both the decision to approve or deny financing and the specific terms offered, such as interest rates, down payments, and closing costs. The rule also extends to discriminatory practices tied to an applicant's associates, other parties with an interest in the transaction, or the demographics of the neighborhood where the property is located — a practice commonly known as redlining.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers who work with or refer buyers or tenants to financing sources should be aware that § 17-161 of Effingham's Fair Housing ordinance places obligations on financial institutions involved in housing transactions. Compliant lenders evaluate applicants on neutral, non-discriminatory criteria and apply consistent loan terms regardless of protected characteristics. Landlords who facilitate or steer applicants toward financing arrangements may want to ensure those arrangements do not implicate the discriminatory practices described in this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Effingham Ch. 17 Art. VI § 17-161, applicants for housing-related loans or financial assistance have the right to be evaluated without regard to race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, or physical or mental handicap, and to receive loan terms free from discrimination on those bases. If a financial institution appears to have denied financing or offered less favorable terms based on a protected characteristic — or based on the neighborhood's demographics — that may constitute a violation of this provision. Tenants and prospective buyers who believe they have experienced such treatment can document the details of the transaction, explore filing a complaint with a local fair housing authority or the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, or consult a tenant-rights or fair housing organization for general information about available options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 9, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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