Registration is now open for the annual Fair Housing Conference sponsored by the Fair Housing Project of Legal Aid of North Carolina and the City of Raleigh’s Fair Housing Hearing Board. This year’s event, which is being conducted online and is free of charge, will take place on April 23, 2021, from 9am-1pm. The keynote …
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Housing complex settles discrimination case, adopts fair criminal history policy for tenant applicants
RALEIGH, March 29, 2021 – Legal Aid of North Carolina announced today that it has settled a housing discrimination complaint against Cypress Grove Apartments, a multifamily housing complex located in Wilmington, North Carolina. Legal Aid’s Fair Housing Project filed the complaint on behalf of a 64-year-old tenant whose rental application was improperly denied because of …
Housing Discrimination Case in Greenville Continues after One Defendant Sentenced to 28 Months in Federal Prison for Racial Harassment
RALEIGH, December 1, 2020—Douglas Matthew Gurkins, 34, a Greenville resident, has been sentenced to 28 months in federal prison for using racial slurs against and threatening the lives of a Black American family, consisting of a mother and her four children—a criminal violation of the federal Fair Housing Act. At the sentencing hearing, other Black …
CDC Nationwide Eviction Moratorium Takes Effect
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has ordered the nationwide suspension of certain residential evictions for nonpayment of rent, fees, and other charges. The order takes effect on September 4, 2020, and lasts through December 31, 2020. It is estimated that the moratorium could apply to as many as 40 million tenants across the …
Fair Housing and Criminal Background Screening Guide: Public Housing and Section 8 Vouchers
The guidance below describes how a criminal record may affect applicants and tenants in North Carolina who live in subsidized housing. Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) operate a number of subsidized housing programs in North Carolina, including public housing and Housing Choice (“Section 8”) Vouchers. This guidance applies to Public Housing Authorities and Section 8 Housing …
Free Fair Housing Webinar for Durham Residents
Join Legal Aid of North Carolina and the City of Durham Human Relations Division for a free webinar on fair housing law and tenant’s rights on August 4, 2020 at 12:00 pm. While the webinar is free, advanced registration is required. The Fair Housing Act and Tenant’s Rights Tuesday, August 4, 2020 12:00 – 1:30 …
Fair Housing Project Update Regarding Housing Discrimination and the Coronavirus
Legal Aid of North Carolina’s Fair Housing Project understands that COVID-19 is a serious threat to the health, safety and well-being of all North Carolinians, but particularly seniors, people with disabilities or other underlying health conditions, and low–income individuals. As of March 18, 2020, LANC staff, including at the Fair Housing Project, are working remotely …
Raleigh Housing Authority Settles Lawsuit Alleging Housing Discrimination Against Victims of Domestic Violence
RALEIGH, October 16, 2019 – Legal Aid of North Carolina and the Duke Civil Justice Clinic announced today that they recently settled a federal discrimination complaint filed against the Raleigh Housing Authority (RHA) on behalf of a public housing tenant who was a victim of domestic violence. The settlement includes a Federal Consent Decree—believed to …
HUD Awards Legal Aid of NC $425,000 to Support Its Fair Housing Work
On April 17, 2019, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) announced that Legal Aid of North Carolina had been awarded an Education and Outreach Initiative (EOI) grant to Legal Aid’s Fair Housing Project. The $125,000 grant will allow Legal Aid to conduct education and outreach training events, including programs for individuals with …
Legal Aid of North Carolina Receives HUD Fair Housing Grant
On December 4, 2018, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced that Legal Aid of North Carolina (LANC) was one of nearly 80 organizations to be awarded grants to help enforce fair housing laws and protect individuals from discrimination. LANC, which will receive $300,000 to support its Fair Housing Project, is the …