By: Hope Williams, Supervising Attorney The first months of 2022 brought significant news impacting ongoing efforts to address the legacy of discrimination in housing appraisals. In January 2022, the National …
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High Point Housing Authority Settles Discrimination Case; Compensates Tenant Rejected because of Criminal Arrests and Agrees to Adopt Fair Criminal History Policy for All Tenant Applicants
Legal Aid of North Carolina recently settled a housing discrimination complaint against the High Point Housing Authority (HPHA), a public housing authority located in High Point, North Carolina. The complaint …
HUD to Review Program Policies, Regulations, and Sub-Regulatory Documents to Eliminate Barriers that Unnecessarily Prevent Individuals with Criminal Histories from Participating in HUD Programs
On April 12, 2022, Secretary Fudge issued a Memorandum recognizing that individuals with criminal histories often face barriers to obtaining and maintaining housing, including public housing, HUD-assisted housing, and HUD-insured …
Interagency Task Force Issues New Guidance on Appraisals & Fair Housing Compliance
On November 17, 2021, HUD issued a Mortgagee Letter (ML Guidance) clarifying the existing requirements for appraisers and mortgage lenders to comply with the Fair Housing Act….Read More
Court Upholds Seattle, WA, “Fair Chance” Housing Law Prohibiting Criminal History Screening
On July 6, 2021, a federal court upheld the City of Seattle’s Fair Chance Housing Ordinance. See Yim v. City of Seattle, 2021 WL 2805377 (W.D. Wash. July 6, 2021). …
Housing complex settles discrimination case, adopts fair criminal history policy for tenant applicants
On March 29, 2021, Legal Aid of North Carolina announced that it had settled a housing discrimination complaint against Cypress Grove Apartments, a multifamily housing complex located in Wilmington, North …
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 …
Sapelo Island Residents Settle Discrimination Suit Against State of Georgia and Government Officials; State to Pay $750,000 and Make Additional Changes to Address Race & Disability Discrimination Claims
In December, 2020, the law firm of Relman Colfax announced the settlement of a federal Fair Housing Act case brought by 54 property owners and residents of Sapelo Island against …
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 …
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 …