Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently announced a series of Fair Housing Act (FHA) charges and settlements related to allegations of discrimination based on source of income, disability status, and familial status. The charges were the result of an investigation that lasted over three years in two states and involved numerous allegations from plaintiffs who reported being illegally discriminated against in their attempts to secure housing in the real estate market.
HUD’s investigations revealed that multiple acts of discrimination had taken place against individuals based on both their sources of income and familial status. In some cases, daycare workers were denied access to rental housing due to the presence of children. In other cases, applicants who received Supplemental Security Income were denied access to housing based on their source of income. Additionally, several instances were discovered where individuals with disabilities were not provided reasonable accommodations in order to make living units accessible to them.
The settlements imposed by HUD include monetary damages to individuals that were discriminated against, as well as civil penalties levied against real estate companies and brokerages. The settlements also require the companies and brokerages to take corrective action and training in order to reduce the risk of future instances of discrimination. These corrective measures include changes in policy, procedures, and protocols, as well as providing additional training for employees. Furthermore, these companies and brokerages must submit to HUD semi-annual reports detailing their compliance with the FHA and any further discrimination complaints they receive from the public.
In total, HUD has settled a total of $2 million in damages, fees, and civil penalties related to these violations of the FHA. The settlements demonstrate HUD’s commitment to protecting individuals from discrimination based on their source of income, disability status, and familial status which are all prohibited under the FHA.
The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently made headlines when it announced a series of charges and settlements relating to alleged violations of the Fair Housing Act (FHA). These charges and settlements cover various instances of discrimination, including those based on source of income, disability status, and familial status. The basis for the department’s charges and settlements comes from an investigation conducted over three years in two different states. Following its investigation, HUD determined that discrimination had occurred in each state and levied damages, fees, and penalties totaling over $2 million.
The investigation revealed that discrimination had been occurring in the real estate market in regards to rental properties. Examples of this discrimination included the denial of rental housing to daycare workers due to the presence of children, the denial of applications of those receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and the failure to provide reasonable accommodations to those with disabilities.
In response to the multiple instances of discrimination, HUD issued a wide range of settlements against various real estate companies and brokerages. These settlements include damages for those affected by the discrimination, civil penalties, and corrective action and training to ensure that future instances of discrimination do not occur. These corrective measures include policy changes, additional training for employees, and semi-annual reporting to HUD regarding any further discrimination claims.
Overall, the charges and settlements released by HUD demonstrate the agency’s dedication to enforcing the FHA and protecting individuals from discrimination based on their source of income, disability status, and familial status. Through its extensive investigations and resulting settlements and penalties, HUD emphasizes the importance of eradicating discrimination in the real estate market regardless of one’s financial background, physical abilities, or family situation.
This article was contributed on Jul 05, 2023
