Metro Fair Housing Services, Inc. in Atlanta, GA

Metro Fair Housing Services, Inc. was founded on August 29, 1974, originally as Homefinders Listing Service, Inc., by a coalition of area organizations and church groups in South DeKalb County. The organization was created in response to racial steering, blockbusting, and housing discrimination practices that were prevalent at the time. It was renamed Metro Fair Housing Services, Inc. in 1978 to better reflect its expanded mission beyond property listings. As a private, not-for-profit corporation, Metro has operated for over 50 years as a civil rights organization dedicated to eliminating housing discrimination and promoting equal opportunity in housing throughout metropolitan Atlanta and surrounding jurisdictions.

Metro provides three core service areas: Education & Outreach programs to raise awareness about fair housing rights; Complaint Intake & Counseling services to assist individuals who believe they have experienced housing discrimination; and Enforcement activities including fair housing testing and litigation. The organization explicitly states that all counseling services are completely free of charge. Metro has been actively involved in fair housing litigation and testing programs since its inception, and is a charter member of the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA). The organization has participated in national Housing Discrimination Studies in 1989, 2000, and 2010 to measure discrimination faced by home-seekers.

What distinguishes Metro is its long track record of enforcement action and impact litigation. The organization has conducted fair housing tests for NFHA for several years and was a co-plaintiff in a lawsuit against A.G. Spanos, a major national multifamily apartment builder, resulting in changes to how insurance companies offer coverage nationwide. Metro's testing work in the mid-1990s forced insurance companies to change discriminatory practices affecting homeowners across the country. The organization operates with a specific focus on metropolitan Atlanta and surrounding areas, providing deep local expertise in Georgia fair housing law and practice.

Metro Fair Housing Services is best suited for individuals who believe they have experienced housing discrimination or want to understand their fair housing rights. The primary caveat is that this is a regional organization serving only the Atlanta metropolitan area and surrounding jurisdictions—not a national service. Additionally, while they provide free counseling and education, they function primarily as a civil rights advocacy and enforcement organization rather than a direct financial assistance or credit-building service.