FHC FILES HOUSING DISCRIMINATION COMPLAINT WITH THE HUD AGAINST THE CITY OF BOYNTON BEACH FOR DISCRIMINATING AGAINST PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES”

The Fair Housing Center of the Greater Palm Beaches, Inc. (FHC) has filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) against the City of Boynton Beach (the City). The complaint alleges discrimination based on Handicap/Disability, in violation of the Fair Housing Act and Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act.

On November 5, 2016 the Justice Department and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released an updated guidance on the application of the federal Fair Housing Act (FHA) to state and local land use and zoning laws.  The guidance is designed to help state and local governments better understand how to comply with the FHA when making zoning and land use decisions, as well as to help members of the public understand their rights under the FHA.

 On December 6, 2016, the City of Boynton Beach City Commissioners adopted Resolution R16-165, declaring the commencement of a study period related to Respondent CBB zoning and use regulations concerning group homes; and to abate the issuance of any permit for group homes within its city limits until June 4, 2017; and undertake review and revision of the zoning and use regulations as they relate to group housing within the City of Boynton Beach. On December 19, 2016 the City again voted  unanimously to institute it’s six month moratorium on all group homes, in violation of Fair Housing Act and Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act.

“Suppose a municipality issued a moratorium barring families with children, Blacks or Latinos from moving to that City, while they study the law. No one would stand for that!” stated Vince Larkins, FHC President & CEO. “The idea that the City of Boynton Beach thinks that they can discriminate against a whole group of people is outrageous. The FHC will not sit idly by while people with disabilities are targeted, in violation of federal Fair Housing Act”, he further stated.

 Group homes cover a wide range of disabilities. Residents usually have some type of chronic mental disorder that impairs their ability to live independently. Many residents also have physical disabilities such as impairments of vision communication, or ambulation.

Statement from Lisa Rice, Executive Vice President of the National Fair Housing Alliance on the Confirmation of Dr. Ben Carson as Secretary of HUD

The National Fair Housing Alliance strongly urges Dr. Ben Carson, in his new role as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, to tackle immediately the many critical housing challenges that our country faces.  Many of these are a legacy of the financial and foreclosure crises which disproportionately impacted America’s communities of color. These communities have yet to recover.  Housing inequality has had a devastating effect on individuals, communities and businesses and HUD plays a pivotal role in eliminating this inequality. The National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) and its members across the country invite Secretary Carson to work with us to address these pressing issues.

Housing discrimination continues to be a significant problem in this country, unfairly limiting people’s choices about where to live. NFHA estimates that more than 4 million instances of housing discrimination occur annually.During his confirmation hearing, Secretary Carson said he would “aggressively enforce the Fair Housing Act,” and referred to the law as, “one of the best pieces of legislation which we’ve had.”

On MLK Day the FHC celebrates the life and legacy of the man who started what our mission of fair housing is today

FHC JOINS NFHA AND 19 LOCAL FAIR HOUSING GROUPS IN FILING A FEDERAL LAWSUIT AGAINST MORTGAGE GIANT FANNIE MAE

Washington DC- The Fair Housing Center of the Greater Palm Beaches (FHC) joined the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) and nineteen fair housing organizations from across the country to announce the filing of a housing discrimination lawsuit against Fannie Mae in federal district court in San Francisco, CA. The civil rights groups allege that Fannie Mae fails to maintain its foreclosed homes (also known as real estate owned or “REO” properties) in middle- and working-class African American and Latino neighborhoods to the same standard to which it maintains its foreclosures in predominantly white neighborhoods.  This practice violates the federal Fair Housing Act.

 The fair housing organizations investigated over 2,300 properties owned by Fannie Mae, collected evidence on over 35 data points for each foreclosed home, and documented differences in treatment based on the race and/or ethnicity of the neighborhood in which the Fannie Mae foreclosure was located.  The evidence includes over 49,000 photographs.

Read Press Release

Read Complaint/Lawsuit

View Powerpoint Presentation

View Exhibit A (Fannie Mae Service Checklist)

Palm Beach Post

WPTV Channel 5 News

FHC JOINS FAIR HOUSING GROUPS ACROSS THE COUNTRY DEMANDING WESTCHESTER ENFORCEMENT

In papers filed in Federal District Court in the Southern District of New York, the Fair Housing Center of the Greater Palm Beaches (FHC)  joined with nine other civil rights from across the country in urging the Court to consider fully the facts and perspective brought to the Court’s attention in a May 11th letter from the Anti-Discrimination Center (ADC). Pointing out that the failure to enforce the consent decree against Westchester County will embolden others across the country to perpetuate segregation, the groups asked the Court to order the robust remedies sought by ADC.

In addition to FHC, the groups filing the papers are: Central Ohio Fair Housing Association, Disability Law Center, Enhanced Section 8 Outreach Program, ERASE Racism, Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana, Fair Housing Center of the Greater Palm Beaches, Fair Housing Council of Orange Country, Inclusive Communities Project, Miami Valley Fair Housing Center and  the National Fair Housing Alliance.