Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently announced a $1.4 million settlement with the Bridgeport Housing Authority over civil rights violations related to housing discrimination against individuals with disabilities. The agreement, which was reached between HUD's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) and the Bridgeport Housing Authority, resolves a complaint alleging that the housing authority failed to provide reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities and discriminated against disabled persons in violation of the Fair Housing Act.
Under the terms of the settlement, the Bridgeport Housing Authority will pay the complainants $1.4 million and make extensive changes to their policies and procedures to ensure that persons with disabilities are no longer subject to discrimination. These changes include making all public and common areas accessible to disabled persons, providing reasonable accommodations to disabled persons upon request, and providing regular and ongoing training on the requirements of the Fair Housing Act and other applicable laws.
The settlement is the result of a complaint filed by the Connecticut Fair Housing Center in February 2016. The complaint alleged that the Bridgeport Housing Authority had denied reasonable accommodations to disabled persons and had failed to make its public and common areas accessible to disabled persons in violation of the Fair Housing Act. The complaint was referred to HUD for investigation, and the subsequent investigation revealed evidence to support the allegations.
This settlement sends an important message that discriminatory practices against individuals with disabilities will not be tolerated. HUD is committed to ensuring equal access to housing for all persons, regardless of their disability status. This settlement underscores the need for all housing providers to be aware of their obligations under the Fair Housing Act and other applicable laws and to take all necessary steps to ensure that persons with disabilities have access to fair and equitable housing opportunities.
The Bridgeport Housing Authority has agreed to revise their existing policies and procedures to fully comply with all applicable federal laws, including the Fair Housing Act. This includes ensuring that all public and common areas are accessible to disabled persons and that all reasonable accommodations requested by disabled persons are promptly provided. The housing authority is also required to provide regular and ongoing training to all staff members on the requirements of the Fair Housing Act and other applicable laws.
The settlement between HUD's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity and the Bridgeport Housing Authority serves as a reminder that housing providers must adhere to the requirements of the Fair Housing Act and other applicable laws. This settlement demonstrates HUD's commitment to protecting the rights of disabled persons to access fair and equitable housing opportunities. Additionally, it sends a clear message that any form of discrimination against persons with disabilities will not be tolerated.
S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) recently reached a settlement with the Bridgeport Housing Authority (BHA) regarding disability discrimination claims. The complaint, which was originally lodged by the Connecticut Fair Housing Center, alleged that BHA had breached the Federal Fair Housing Act (FHA) by denying reasonable accommodations to disabled persons and failing to make public and common areas accessible to such persons. The agreement requires BHA to pay $1.4 million to the complainants and undertake several measures to ensure non-discrimination against disabled persons in the future.
The measures include ensuring public and common areas are accessible to disabled persons and providing reasonable accommodations to disabled persons upon request, along with regular and ongoing training for all staff members on the requirements of the FHA and other applicable laws. This settlement sends a signal that discrimination against disabled persons in the area of housing opportunities will not be tolerated, and any housing providers who fail to adhere to the FHA requirements could find themselves facing similar consequences.
Additionally, this case is also a great example of how effective enforcement of the FHA can be. By reaching out for help and filing a complaint, vulnerable members of society can work together with government enforcers to hold wrongdoers accountable and do away with any form of discrimination and intolerance. This can, in turn, lead to greater fairness and equity in housing markets, which can only benefit all citizens in the long run.
This article was contributed on Nov 18, 2023
