The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)'s Voluntary Compliance Agreement with the Alice Aboussie Pavilion Apartments resolves a compliance review concerning non-discrimination in their marketing and tenanting procedures. Aboussie Pavilion Apartments consists of two buildings known as Bevo and Bavarian for a total of 273 units in St. Louis, Missouri. The Property provides affordable subsidized units through the Section 8 program for families with a member who is 62 or older or has a disability. Read the Agreement.
This Agreement arises from a compliance review that was conducted by HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. FHEO did the review to assess information indicating disproportionately low participation rates of Black residents at the Aboussie Pavilion compared to the housing market. In other words, to determine if housing discrimination was present. HUD's review found disparities in the Property’s tenant screening practices for credit history and criminal records which disproportionately impacted Black applicants.
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin in programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance.
Under the Agreement, Aboussie Pavilion will set up a $156,000 fund to compensate individuals who were denied due to credit history or criminal records during the review period. It also will create a new waitlist after significant marketing to those least likely to apply; spend at least $10,000 on advertising, outreach, and website development; revise all policies about its evaluation of credit or rental history consistent with civil rights laws and HUD’s guidance; and waive move-in fees for formerly denied applicants who reapply and are admitted. This Agreement does not constitute admissions by the housing providers or evidence of a final determination by HUD of violations of Title VI or any other laws.
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Source: December 3, 2022 HUD Press Release.
