Black and Latino consumers were actively targeted by predatory subprime mortgage lenders in the run-up to the 2008 Financial Crisis and, as a result, homes in Black and Latino neighborhoods were respectively 2 and 2.5 times more likely to be foreclosed than homes in White communities. Visit Website. The jury found that the Defendant had engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination against persons with disabilities and had denied rights protected by the Fair Housing Act to a group of such persons. When it comes to being discriminated against and purchasing a home, this can also extend into mortgage lending, too. According to a 2019 study cited by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, nearly 8 in 10 formerly incarcerated individuals reported ineligibility or denial of housing because of their or a loved ones conviction history. Read the press release and agreement here. Such interpretations do not necessarily reflect the views of the Federal Government. The case was referred to the Division after the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) received a complaint, conducted an investigation, and issued a charge of discrimination. Shirlee Nolen and Nolen Properties, LLC, are also named as defendants because they co-own or co-owned properties where harassment occurred at the relevant times. The statement of interest explains that damages may be available to private litigants pursuing land use claims against municipal defendants under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 (RLUIPA). The consent order requires the defendants to pay two former tenants, Alison and Jesse Noce, the sum of $12,000, and a current tenant, Sarah Jamison, $3000. Contact the Fair Housing Project or a private attorney if you need to speak with an attorney regarding your particular situation. Pa.). On July 9, 2021, the United States filed the Fair Housing Act complaint and proposed consent order. We use MailChimp as our e-mail automation platform. On September 1, 2021, the court entered a consent order in United States v. Smolnik (W.D. Por qu investigamos la muerte de Jefferson? The jury also found that the Defendant had violated the Fair Housing Act rights of three persons a married couple who owned a unit and another woman who was also a unit owner - whose requests for accommodations for assistance animals were denied or unreasonably delayed. The case involved fair housing testing. On Apr. Here are a few dos and donts that may ease the process: Jason is a freelance writer and editor, as well as an avid fiddler. Mich.). Tagged With: criminal background, national origin, race. You cant sell our material separately or syndicate it. Keep careful records of any problematic behaviors exhibited by all tenants. The complaint alleges that the defendants discriminated on the basis of disability in violation of the Fair Housing Act (FHA) by refusing to allow complainants, who received their SSI and SSDI payments around the third of every month, to pay their rent by the fifth of the month. Safeguard Properties NFHA et al. The complaint alleges that the defendant discriminated on the basis of sex in violation of the Fair Housing Act (FHA) by sexually harassing the complainant when she rented housing in a building the he owned and managed and by retaliating against her by ordering her to move out after she objected to his advances. Legal Aid of North Carolina does not provide legal assistance by email. Read the press release and agreement here, Read the full Press Release and Agreement here. For example, some people may constantly endure harassment from their landlords because of their gender or race. In some cases, its extremely obvious and you have enough evidence to prove it. Countrywide has not admitted to any discriminatory practice. At this point in the process, there is no way to avoid how time-consuming, costly, and stressful its going to be. The materials contained on this website are for information and education purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. (To inquire about syndication or licensing opportunities, contact. Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons (RLUIPA): On February 25, 2022, the court entered a consent order in United States v. Village of Walthill, Nebraska (D. As we reported last week, the DOJ reached a $335 million settlement, the US largest fair lending settlement on record, using the disparate impact standard. To become a member, visit our Members page! On February 22, 2023, the United States filed an election complaint in United States v. MA Partners 2, et al. The settlement requires, in part, the AHA to "deposit in an interest-bearing escrow account" $275,000 for the purpose of "compensating the 23 individuals identified by the United States in pretrial disclosures as aggrieved persons," according to the . Fair Housing Project P.O. The complaint, which was filed on October 30, 2020, alleges that the owners and managers of a 15-lot mobile home park in West Plains, Missouri discriminated on the basis of disability by requiring a pet deposit for the complainants assistance animal and verbally harassing the complainants, brandishing a gun, and physically attacking one of the complainants. On February 23, 2023, the United States filed a pattern or practice complaint in United States v. Joel Nolen et at. Black and Hispanic homeowners also were encouraged to take on riskier subprime loans. While there are certainly more subtle ways that people may find themselves victims of discrimination when it comes to housing, in other situations, there may be no question about whats going on. His articles have been published in a number of real estate publications including Wealth and Retirement Planner and Bankrate.com. To view this content you must be a paying member. Pa.). The complaint alleges that defendants, the City of El Paso and its agents, engaged in a pattern or practice of violating Section 3958 of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) by repossessing at least 176 vehicles owned by protected servicemembers without the required court orders. Investigating Americas racial divide in education, housing and beyond. v. SafeRent et al. vs. If you are using a screen reader and are having problems using this website, please call. At USClaims, we offer pre-settlement funding, which is also frequently referred to as a lawsuit advance. Purpose, Process, and Monitoring Framework (PPM), Discrimination Against the Deaf in Senior Living Facilities, 2 and 2.5 times more likely to be foreclosed, Fair Housing Advocates of Northern California, Fair Housing Center of the Greater Palm Beaches, Housing Opportunities Made Equal of Virginia. The lawsuit was originally brought against Redfin in October 2020 by NFHA and nine other fair housing organizations alleging redlining in certain ZIP codes. If you are a resident of the European Union, DO NOT USE THIS SITE. Look carefully at the summons if you receive one. Apply California, Central District filter, Apply Pennsylvania, Eastern District filter, Apply California, Northern District filter, Apply Mississippi, Southern District filter, Apply Pennsylvania, Western District filter, Apply Washington, Eastern District filter, Apply Washington, Western District filter, Apply Mississippi, Northern District filter, Apply North Carolina, Eastern District filter, Meet the Head of the Civil Rights Division, United States v. Joel Nolen et al. The mortgage company settled for $2 million in 2010, and set new loan pricing policies and employee training requirements. Mich.). On February 7, 2023, the court entered a consent order in this Fair Housing Act election case. If the case attracts media attention, you want your message to be a part of the media cycle from the beginning, otherwise your only representation in the media is No comment.. And they're relying on the, Purpose-built property accounting software, Get paid faster with our online payment platform, Managing work orders has never been easier, Easily create your 1099s and stay organized during tax season, A free property management website, hosted by Buildium, Jumpstart your portfolio growth with All Property Management, An ever-expanding ecosystem of property management apps, Free your data to operate more efficiently. Any website our stories appear on must include a prominent and effective way to contact you. With similar cases pending against private lenders like Bank of America and Deutsche Bank, this recognition has significant meaning. She studied journalism at Northwestern University, and has written for The Nation, The Chicago Reporter and TheAtlantic.com. On September 8, 2021, the court entered a consent order in United States v. Las Vegas Jaycees (D. Nev.). ), Remarks of Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke (1/12/2023), Louis et al. Contact the Fair Housing Project or a private attorney if you need to speak with an attorney regarding your particular situation. Get our investigations delivered to your inbox with the Big Story newsletter. We use MailChimp as our e-mail automation platform. (W.D. Cal.). Millions of homeowners in Black and Latino communities lost their homes, and these neighborhoods were decimated, said Lisa Rice, President and CEO of NFHA. If youre already a member, login to access this page. *By clicking SUBMIT, I consent to the Privacy Policy and the Terms of Use, including mandatory arbitration. On February 7, 2023, the court entered a consent order in this Fair Housing Act "election" case. Learn to identify discrimination with lorem ipsum placeholder dummy text copy. Mo.). On November 21, 2022, the United States Attorneys Office filed an election complaint in United States v. Hannah, et al. United States v. Premiere Holdings, Inc. (D. Nev.) Overview. The owners also retaliated against the couple for complaining about the harassment. 29, The National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) announced in a court filing that it had reached a settlement with Redfin to resolve its fair housing lawsuit against the real estate giant. The consent order, was approved by the court and requires City National to invest at least $29.5 million in a loan subsidy fund for residents of majority-Black and Hispanic neighborhoods in Los Angeles County; invest $750,000 for development of community partnerships to provide services that increase access to residential mortgage credit in those neighborhoods; invest $500,000 for advertising and outreach in those neighborhoods; and invest $500,000 for consumer financial education.Press Release (1/12/2023)Comunicado de prensa (12 01 2023)Remarks of Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke (1/12/2023)Declaracin de AAG Clarke (12 01 2023), On January 9, 2023, the United States filed a Statement of Interest in Louis et al. The Fortune Society had alleged in the case that (1) Defendants refused rental inquires for their clients because of their policy prohibiting anyone with a criminal record from residing there, and (2) Defendants policy was discriminatory in violation of the FHA because it disproportionately excluded African Americans and Latinos from housing, without considering each potential tenants individual circumstances. Rental and Sales Discrimination based on Disability: On January 3, 2023, the court entered a consent order in United States v. Perry Homes, Inc. (W.D. The complaint named Premiere Holdings, Inc.; Premiere Holdings Residential Division, LLC; Premiere Holdings Residential Division, LLC, Series LV; Lauri Villafane;and Felicia Abdo as defendants. Tex. (W.D. Fair LendingRental and Sales Discrimination based on Race, Color, National Origin, Familial Status and ReligionSexual HarassmentRental and Sales Discrimination based on DisabilityDesign and ConstructionDiscriminatory Land Use and ZoningPublic Accommodations (Title II)Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA)Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). (W.D. Include: Criminal background requirements (i.e., no convictions in 3 years, no domestic violence convictions ever), Occupancy restrictions/maximum number of individuals in a unit, Solid references from last two landlords, if applicable. Tex.). The complaint, filed on September 29, 2020, alleged that Defendants Las Vegas Jaycees Senior Citizens Mobile Home Community, Newport Pacific Capital Company, and Sherry Polley-Tompkins discriminated against the Complainants on the basis of disability. v. INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES PROJECT, INC., ET AL. There are certain reasonable factors that are strongly considered, such as income and debt, but there are other factors that should never be taken into consideration. Take photos if necessary. Mich.), the private companion case to United States v. City of Troy, Michigan (E.D. Read about []. Keep up-to-date with the latest news and housing related activism. In this complaint, testing revealed that agents of the Lee Garland and Rita Jensen Team of RE/MAX Alliance discriminated on the basis of race. However, if you do feel like something is not quite right, it may be worth taking the next step. Website by Tomatillo Design, Shut Out of Housing: Legal Protections for Domestic Violence Survivors, Religious Discrimination under the Fair Housing Act. Cal. The Fair Housing Act, for example, makes it illegal to "make, print, or publish, or cause to be made, printed, or published any notice, statement, or advertisement" that would limit housing options for protected groups. If an applicant does not meet these requirements, thats one thing. The work that provided the basis for this publication was supported by funding under a grant (FEOI210033) with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Copyright 2023 Fair Housing Project, a project of Legal Aid North Carolina224 South Dawson Street, Raleigh, NC 27601 1-855-797-3247 info@fairhousingnc.org
The case centers on Detroit, where from 2004 to 2006, African Americans were 70 percent more likely to receive a subprime loan than white borrowers with the same income and credit background. The case was referred to the Division after the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) received a complaint, conducted an investigation, and issued a charge of discrimination. The amended complaint, which was filed on October 8, 2021, alleged that defendants Perry Homes Inc., Robert Whittington and Allyson Whittington discriminated on the basis of disability in violation of the Fair Housing Act by implementing a policy of excluding emotional support animals from rental properties they owned or operated in Cranberry, Zelienople, and Harmony, Pennsylvania. In, According to the CDC there are 61 million Americans with disabilities. Other times, you may even be questioning it yourself, without knowing with absolute certainty. The complaint, which was filed on April 5, alleged that Perry Homes, the owner of a multifamily rental property in Cranberry, Pennsylvania, discriminated on the basis of disability in violation of the Fair Housing Act by refusing to grant requests for reasonable accommodations made by two different tenant households who sought permission to keep an assistance animal in their apartments. ), United States v. Premiere Holdings, Inc. (D. Nev.), United States v. City of El Paso, Texas, et al. (E.D. Last week, the Obama administration formalized the legal standard it has used to enforce fair housing laws and hold banks accountable for discriminating against minorities. all v. HUD and Paul Rainwater, Executive Director of the Louisiana Recovery Authority. Global Headquarters Because a familys home is often its greatest asset, unfair practices drive growth of the racial wealth gap, said William Tisdale, President and CEO of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Fair Housing Council. Morgan Stanley filed a motion to dismiss the case at the end of December. Last week, the Obama administration formalized the legal standard it has used to enforce fair housing laws and hold banks accountable for their role in a foreclosure crisis that hit black and Latino homeowners the hardest. SunTrust denied any wrongdoing, but settled for $21 million in May. The agents steered the white home seekers away from interracial neighborhoods in Jackson, which is majority African American, and into majority white areas. Put your leasing/renting criteria in writing. However, if they check all the boxes and yet theyre still not approved for the rental they are applying for, its possible there is something else going on that is worth investigating. The jury also found that the United States had not proven that Defendant unlawfully denied the accommodation requested by a unit owner who had filed a HUD complaint and intervened as a plaintiff. Housing Opportunities Project for Excellence, Inc. Housing Research and Advocacy Center dba Fair Housing Center for Rights and Research, Metropolitan Milwaukee Fair Housing Council, Toledo Fair Housing Center, d/b/a The Fair Housing Center. TRAVELERS This federal lawsuit alleged race, sex and source of income discrimination against Travelers Indemnity Company and Travelers Casualty Insurance Company of America (Travelers) for failing to provide habitational insurance to apartment owners who rent to tenants who participate in the Housing Choice Voucher program. The plaintiffs 2016 allegations against Fannie Mae arose after a comprehensive, four-year investigation of more than 2,300 Fannie Mae-owned foreclosed properties in 39 metropolitan areas in the country. The following is a list of the fair housing organizations that joined NFHA as plaintiffs in this case against Fannie Mae: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development grants supported the investigation into potential disparities in the maintenance and marketing of REO properties. Promptly alert your errors and omissions insurance or landlords insurance carrier at the first sign of trouble. Discrimination Isn't Always Obvious - Example #1: Tex.). [] The United States alleged in this case that the DOA discriminated on the basis of disability by failing to grant a reasonable accommodation to its no-pets policy to a HUD complainant, and alleged that DOA engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination and/or a denial of rights against a group of persons by adopting a discriminatory policy and refusing to grant reasonable accommodations to persons with disabilities who need assistance animals. But thats the last thing you should do. It's fair to be angry and scaredthe direct federal fines for violations of the Fair Housing Act are usually $17,000 per violation; total settlements on race, familial status, age and sex discrimination cases often reach well into the six figuresbut those overwhelming emotions are why you should go straight to your lawyer. In addition to damages, the Defendants must comply with the Fair Housing Act, adopt a reasonable accommodation policy, publicize the policy in applications, leases, tenant renewal and the rental office, provide training for its employees, and comply with other equitable terms. Brockbk JV LLC, Dallas Redevelopment Equities LLC, Alden Short, Inc., and Sam Matalone are also named as defendants in the case. An official website of the United States government. The lawsuit alleged "widespread violations of the federal Fair Housing Act's accessibility requirements" at 38 Clover Group properties, including three in Indiana. The grants will also include innovative programs and partnerships to promote fair housing. Keep up-to-date with the latest news and housing related activism. We have official accounts for ProPublica on. The fair housing groups are represented by noted civil rights law firms Relman Colfax PLLC and Dane Law LLC. The substance and findings of the work are dedicated to the public. Specifically, the complaint alleged that the Defendants failed to grant a reasonable accommodation to its breed restriction policy to allow a woman with PTSD to visit her mother at the mobile home community with her assistance animal and that the Defendants interfered with the Complainants fair housing rights by banning the daughter and evicting the mother from the community. Cal.). The Housing and Civil Enforcement Section of the Civil Rights Division is responsible for the Department'senforcement of the Fair Housing Act (FHA), along with the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), the land use provisions of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Housing Rights subpart of the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022 (VAWA 2022). Such interpretations do not necessarily reflect the views of the Federal Government. NFHA is a consortium of more than 200 private, nonprofit fair housing organizations and state and local civil rights agencies from throughout the United States. You cant state or imply that donations to your organization support ProPublicas work. Under the FHA, the Department of Justice may bring lawsuits where there is reason to believe that a person or entity is engaged in a "pattern or practice" of discrimination or where a denial of rights to a group of persons raises an issue of general public importance. The Justice Department announced today that it has secured an agreement to resolve a lawsuit alleging that landlord Darrell Jones of Muskegon, Michigan, violated the Fair Housing Act by sexually harassing female tenants. The case was referred to the Division after the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) received two complaints from unit owners, completed an investigation on the first complaint, and issued a charge of discrimination. In some cases, a real estate agent may discriminate against a homebuyer and only show them certain areas and neighborhoods, despite the buyers location preferences. The complaint, which was filed on February 2, 2023, alleged that the owners and managers of an apartment building in Las Vegas, Nevada violated the Act by refusing to grant a reasonable accommodation to a resident with an assistance animal (a pit bull), and by threatening to enforce the terms of the lease if the dog was present on the property. Correction:An earlier version of this story incorrectly referred to brokers instead of loan officers in the cases involving C&F and PrimeLending. When Black families and other families of color have limited access to wealth-building through homeownership, this means they also have limited access to educational opportunities, quality health care, and more.. The rest of the staff will follow suit. This is just one of the many examples of how discrimination can occur when it comes to housing: being told that exclusive terms and rules conditions apply, only being permitted to live in a specific building (or specific part of the building) of a rental complex, or being singled out and prohibited to use clubhouse amenities are all also possibilities for discrimination. Cases prior to 2018 are available on the old case list page. The DOJ case against Wells Fargo over violation of the Fair Housing Act is the second largest fair lending settlement in the DOJs history, after the lawsuit against Countrywide Financial. USClaims is making your Litigation Funding Simplified. By submitting your e-mail address, you also acknowledge that the information you provide will be transferred to MailChimp for processing in accordance with their Privacy Policy and Terms (https://mailchimp.com/legal). It also prohibits the Village from violating RLUIPA in the future, and requires it to arrange for RLUIPA training of Village Board members and staff, provide notice to the public regarding rights protected by RLUIPA, and comply with recordkeeping, reporting and inspection requirements. After decades of being denied credit, many minority communities were victim to reverse redlining during the foreclosure crisis, as mortgage companies pushed risky loans in hopes of profiting from their higher interest rates and fees. In 2011, HUD agreed to pay roughly $62 million under a new Blight Reduction Grant Adjustment program. The Department of Justice also brings cases where a housing discrimination complaint has been investigated by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, HUD has issued a charge of discrimination, and one of the parties to the case has "elected" to go to federal court. Individuals can also contact the U.S. Attorney's Office Civil Rights Hotline at (855) 281-3339. (N.D. Ga.): On December 30, 2021, the United States Attorneys Office entered into a, On December 28, 2021, the court entered a, On December 22, 2021, the United States filed an, On December 10, 2021, the court entered the, On December 6, 2021, the United States Attorneys office filed a Fair Housing Act (FHA) election, On August 30, 2021, the United States Attorneys Office filed an election, On June 30, 2021, the United States Attorney's Office filed a, On April 11, 2021, the United States Attorneys Office filed a Fair Housing Act (FHA) election, On February 22, 2021, the court entered a, On September 28, 2022, the Court entered a partial, On September 26, 2022, the United States filed a, On September 21, 2021, the court entered an, On July 26, 2022, a federal jury awarded $293,000 in damages against the City of Springfield, Illinois in, On December 27, 2021, the court entered a, On November 24, 2020, the United States filed a pattern or practice, On November 6, 2020, the United States entered into an, On June 4, 2020, the United States filed a, On October 19, 2022, the United States filed a, On February 1, 2018, theUnited Statesentered into a, On November 15, 2022, the United States filed a, On October 14, 2021, the United States filed a, On February 2, 2023, the United States filed a, On September 27, 2022, the parties entered into an addendum to the, On September 2, 2022, the court entered a, On April 15, 2022, the United States filed a, On October 21, 2021, the court entered a consent decree in. Md. Its okay to put our stories on pages with ads, but not ads specifically sold against our stories. Screenshot taken on November 3, 2016. Md. Others may be evicted from their homes for no reason other than their ethnicity or religion. Elm York of East Haven, NY; Madison York Assisted Living Community of Flushing, NY; Madison York Rego Park in Rego Park, NY; and Village Housing Development Fund of New York, NY, (also known as VillageCare) reached a settlement subject to court approval with the Fair Housing Justice Center, a Queens, NY-based nonprofit civil rights organization.