FHC mourns the passing and celebrates the extraordinary life and legacy of Gail Flynn, Vice-President and a founding member of the FHC Board of Directors.

The FHC mourns the passing and celebrates the extraordinary life and legacy of Gail Flynn, Vice-President and a founding member of the FHC Board of Directors. Mrs. Flynn passed away on August 31, 2025.

Mrs. Flynn’s persistent drive for kindness, fairness, and equality called her to the FHC, where she began as a volunteer tester, helping to ensure that residents of Palm Beach County were treated fairly in their pursuit of housing.

After years of dedicated volunteering “in the field,” her commitment and leadership were recognized as she became a member of the Board of Directors of the FHC, serving for 25 years (as well co-editor of the quarterly newsletter) and continuing her dedicated mission to advocate for those who needed a voice, along with her fellow Fair Housing family at the FHC.

R.I.P. Gail! Though you are no longer with us, you will never be forgotten!
We promise you that we will continue the work!!!

Eight Years in the Making — A First-Time Homebuyer’s Big Win

Because It Really Takes a Village — or in This Case, a Town

On a typical Florida summer day, Rebecca experienced anything but a typical Thursday. She was waiting, with excitement and a touch of nervous anticipation, to find out: Would this be the day she finally became a homeowner?

Her journey to that moment was eight years in the making. During that time, she diligently saved, built her credit score into the 800s, and searched for a quality home within her means. As a dedicated VA employee caring for those who have served our nation — and a single parent — Rebecca’s dream was not just about owning a house, but about creating lasting stability for her daughter.

A coworker first introduced her to the Community Land Trust of Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast. One email to Christina, our Housing Manager, began a clear and helpful conversation about the application process. While waiting for another housing project to open, Rebecca learned about three homes created through the Town of Jupiter’s Workforce Housing Ordinance — each reserved for first-time buyers in specific income categories.

The location was ideal: close to her workplace, within her daughter’s school zone, and in a welcoming neighborhood. Rebecca acted quickly, submitting her lender package the same day. When her loan qualification was approved first, she had the privilege of choosing her preferred home — and yard.

Today, Rebecca and her daughter are settling into a home that offers both security and opportunity. With stability in place, she can focus on personal goals: giving her daughter the dream blue bedroom she’s always wanted, planting a garden, and setting up a home gym. Most importantly, she looks forward to the peace that comes from knowing they’ll never have to move again.

Because It Takes a Village:

• Fair Housing Center of the Palm Beaches – Closing Cost Assistance
• Cornerstone – Developer and Builder
• Town of Jupiter – Workforce Housing Program
• City National Bank – Mortgage Lender and Closing Cost Assistance Provider for Homebuyer
• Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County – Pro Bono Legal Services

Federal Lawsuit filed against Boca Condo board alleging housing discrimination against Nurse

A lawsuit has been filed in U.S. District Court in West Palm Beach alleging that the Boca View Condo Association, it’s president and management company blocked a rental application submitted by a unit owner and an intensive care unit (ICU) nurse who worked with COVID-19 patients.

The new suit alleges that because she works with COVID-19 patients, she is “regarded as” a person with a “handicap” under the Fair Housing Act, which prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities, and that the owner, because of her association with ICU nurse, is covered under the same laws.

“During times of crisis, it is essential to support our first responder heroes who give their all on a daily basis,” said Matt Dietz, a law professor at Nova Southeastern University’s Shepard Broad College of Law, who filed the lawsuit on behalf of Tremmel and Piraino. “It is unlawful to refuse housing based upon that important job to care for those in need.”

The lawsuit further alleges that after the unit owner submitted the ICU nurse’s rental application to the condo’s management office on April 24, 2020, the condo association’s president called the unit owner and said that she did not want nurses moving into the building.

Resolution Reached with Appraiser in Lawsuit which alleged violation of Fair Housing Act

San Rafael, CA – Fair Housing Advocates of Northern California (FHANC) and Ronald and Dominique Curtis have reached resolutions with appraiser Mehdi Mehdipour-Mossafer of a discrimination complaint alleging race and national origin discrimination in the home appraisal process. 

The case against the appraiser was settled for $90,000 and other non-monetary terms. Mr. Mehdipour-Mossafer agreed to not engage in any form of unlawful discrimination in the appraisal of residential real estate; to participate in FHANC’s training session regarding the history of segregation and real estate-related discrimination in the Bay Area; and to continue to abide by the Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers’ anti-bias education requirements. The settlement was reached after FHANC and the Curtises filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department (CRD) in January 2022.

The complaint alleged that the Curtises were the owners of a duplex located on Alcatraz Ave in North Oakland. They purchased their home in 2019, hoping to build equity and someday leave the home to their young daughter. Mr. Curtis, a real estate agent, is Black and Mrs. Curtis, an appraiser herself, is Latina. After purchasing the home, they made significant renovations and in April 2020, their home was appraised at $1,154,000.  

“We are pleased to have reached resolutions with the appraiser, AMC, and the lender,” said Caroline Peattie, Executive Director of FHANC. “We hope that the injunctive relief – that is, the non-monetary terms of the resolution – will have a positive impact on the appraisal industry and the community it serves.”

Federal Court Advances Landmark Housing Discrimination Case Against Deutsche Bank, Ocwen, and Altisource to Trial

The National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA), Fair Housing Center of the Greater Palm Beaches (FHC) and 18 fair housing organizations have achieved a significant legal victory as a federal district court in Chicago denied the defendants’ motions for summary judgment in a critical 2018 housing discrimination lawsuit, National Fair Housing Alliance, et al. v. Deutsche Bank National Trust, et al. This decision now paves the way for the lawsuit against Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, Ocwen Financial Corp., and Altisource Portfolio Solutions, Inc. to proceed to trial. Plaintiffs allege that these defendants engaged in discriminatory practices by failing to uphold their duty to maintain and market foreclosed properties in Black and Latino neighborhoods to the same standards as those in predominantly white areas, in violation of the federal Fair Housing Act (FHA).

The lawsuit, filed in February 2018 by NFHA, the FHC and 18 fair housing organizations, builds on an extensive multi-year investigation starting in 2010 and continuing through 2017 in the wake of the mortgage foreclosure crisis. Evidence summarized in the complaint reveals stark inequities. The investigation showed that homes in white neighborhoods were methodically maintained and marketed, while properties in Black and Latino neighborhoods were left in severe disrepair, contributing to safety hazards, declining property values, and worsening economic conditions in historically underserved communities. Plaintiffs presented expert evidence the Court has permitted to be presented at trial that these disparities in maintenance were attributable to neighborhood racial composition, not to non-racial factors, and that race played a statistically significant role in the differential treatment.

The 120+ page ruling, delivered by U.S. District Judge Manish S. Shah, (N.D. Illinois) allows Plaintiffs’ disparate treatment and disparate impact claims to move forward against all defendants. The Court cited evidence of mortgage servicers Ocwen and Altisource abdicating their obligations to maintain properties, and a host of policies that may be shown at trial to cause negative outcomes in communities of color, as compared to other neighborhoods. In turn, the Court held that trustees like Deutsche Bank can be held liable under the FHA for the discriminatory activities of their mortgage servicers. Judge Shah also recognized that all plaintiffs had established sufficient standing to pursue the FHA case in federal court, finding that the critical services that plaintiffs offer were “sufficient to demonstrate that defendants’ REO conduct perceptibly impaired the organizations’ core activities.”

“This is a pivotal decision—not only for NFHA and our partners but for underserved communities across the country that have long endured neglect and inequitable treatment,” said Lisa Rice, President and CEO of NFHA. “This case isn’t just about holding Deutsche Bank, Ocwen and Altisource accountable. It’s about beginning to repair some of the harm that continues to ripple through communities as a result of discriminatory housing practices. This decision carries the promise of hope for neighborhoods that were disproportionately targeted for predatory loans and negatively impacted by the foreclosure crisis. It’s a clear step forward in the fight for equity and justice.”

The full order can be viewed here.