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HUD Charges Pennsylvania Owners with Violating Fair Housing Act |
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From HUD Press Releases: The Fair Housing Act makes it unlawful for a housing provider to refuse to rent to families because they have children and to make, print or publish, in print or on-line, any statement or advertisement that states a preference for single people or couples without children. A converted warehouse, Lofts at the Mill consists of 74 residential apartment units. During 2005 and 2006, the property manager ran several ads in newspapers and on the Internet, which advertised the property as "21 and over." After viewing these advertisements, a local fair housing group contacted Danny Joyce, the property manager, to inform him that the language violated the Fair Housing Act because it prohibits families with children from living or renting at the Mill. Upon learning of the discriminatory content of the advertisements, the Department of Housing and Urban Development exercised its authority to initiate complaints when no individual came forward to file a complaint. As part of its investigation, HUD utilized undercover testers to determine whether the mangers refused to rent to families with children. Another tester was given a brochure that contained the statement, "The Mill is an apartment community catering to young professionals and all occupants must be twenty-one years or older." "Our message to all landlords is clear discriminating against families with children is against the law," said Kim Kendrick, HUD Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO). The HUD charge now goes before an administrative law judge who may award damages to each complainant for actual loss as a result of the alleged discrimination, as well as damages for emotional distress, humiliation, and loss of civil rights.
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