The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)has charged Wrightstown, New Jersey, housing providers Burlington Preservation Associates, LLC, Arbor Management, LLC, and Leon N. Weiner & Associates, Inc. (the “Respondents”) with violating the Fair Housing Act for discriminating against a Black Hispanic father and his three minor children because of his race, color, national origin, and familial status. HUD also charged them with retaliating against the tenant for filing a fair housing complaint against them. Read HUD’s Charge here. HUD’s charge alleges that the Respondents barred the Complainant and his three minor children from the property and started an eviction immediately after his incarceration, even though his attorney told them that the incarceration was likely to be short and his rent was fully paid. The Respondents claimed their actions were based on a purported rule allowing them to evict for the jailing of just one household member. HUD’s investigation found that this rule was not similarly enforced against a white non-Hispanic tenant without children who was also jailed for charges. The Charge further alleges that the Respondents could not provide a non-discriminatory justification for the more aggressive approach they took to enforcing their incarceration policies. HUD's charge will be heard by a U.S. Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) unless any party to the charge elects to have the case heard in federal district court. If an ALJ finds after a hearing that retaliation has occurred, they may award damages to the complainant for harm caused by discrimination, injunctive relief, other equitable relief, payment of attorney fees, and fines to vindicate the public interest. If the matter is decided in federal court, the Federal Court judge may also award damages. For more information on potentially discriminatory evictions, please refer to this HUD Fact Sheet. Anyone who believes they are the victims of housing discrimination should contact HUD at (800) 669-9777 (voice) or (800) 927-9275 (TTY). More information is available at www.hud.gov/fairhousing. Housing providers and others can learn more about their responsibility to provide reasonable accommodations and reasonable modifications to individuals with disabilities here. Materials and assistance are available for persons with limited English proficiency. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing may contact HUD with the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. |
