News

New Executive Director

View press release.

Local Cases

• A case has been filed on behalf a disabled client in federal court against the condominium association, management, and owners of a high-rise condominium. The management of a newly constructed luxury high-rise allegedly arranged the sale of handicap parking spaces to persons who were not disabled, and for a higher cost than other spaces, because the handicap parking spaces are wider to allow for wheelchair access. A press release was issued on April 11 discussing the case in detail. View press release.
• A case with a number of clients involving discrimination against families with children has been settled, and HOPE will participate in training the respondent over the next two years.
• A consent decree was signed resulting in a settlement between a condominium association and HOPE’s client regarding the ability to acquire and keep a companion animal on the premises, after a considerable period of resistance. The animal is being acquired, and will be allowed on the property.
• A complaint filed by a disabled person in an apartment complex that allegedly does not meet Fair Housing Act standards has emerged. Key to this situation is the fact that the property manager cites that they have met village codes, which are apparently well short of federal requirements.

Housing Discrimination: You Had Me At "Hello"

See press release.

What's in a Name?
Or, 'Discrimination' by Any Other Name Would Still Be As Painful

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Ground-Breaking Fair Housing Settlement

On August 20, 2009, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Department of Justice and Westchester County, New York announced a $62.5 million ground-breaking fair housing settlement with the Anti-Discrimination Center. In response, Shanna L. Smith, President and CEO of the National Fair Housing Alliance, stated that:

"The settlement announced today by Westchester County, the federal government, and the Anti-Discrimination Center sends a clear message to recipients of federal housing funds everywhere: you must work to reduce barriers to fair housing and help create inclusive, sustainable communities. It is not a suggestion that can be disregarded or ignored. This is in the intent of both the Community Development Block Grant program (CDBG) program and the Fair Housing Act.

The National Fair Housing Alliance urges the more than 1000 CDBG recipients to re-examine their Analyses of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice and evaluate what concrete fair housing programs they are engaged in to eliminate rental, sales, and insurance discrimination, to challenge predatory mortgage lending and fraud scams, and to stop housing-related hate activity. Fair housing groups have the deep local knowledge needed to detect discrimination, and CDBG recipients can work with these non-profit fair housing agencies to guarantee our communities are vibrant, healthy, inclusive and available to everyone regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability or family status."

HOPE Fair Housing Center's Executive Director, Bernard J. Kleina, stated that local recipients of CDBG funds need to challenge housing discrimination and segregation and to promote neighborhood diversity which in turn, creates new employment, educational opportunities, and healthier, more stable communities for everyone.

Some CDBG recipients such as DuPage County have, for many years, devoted precious resources to fund fair housing enforcement, testing and education and outreach programs. However, other recipients have either done nothing to promote fair housing, or have stood in the way of equality in housing through its programs and practices. We believe that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's emphasis on the responsibility of CDBG recipients to "Affirmatively Further Fair Housing" and the recent court settlement should change that.