FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE THURSDAY, MAY 13, 2004 WWW.USDOJ.GOV CRT (202) 514-2008 TDD (202) 514-1888 WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Justice Department (DOJ) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today announced the release of new guidance explaining housing providers and persons with disabilities rights and obligations under the Fair Housing Act (FHA).
The FHA prohibits housing discrimination based on disability, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, and familial status. The FHA specifically prohibits housing providers from refusing to make reasonable accommodations to afford a person with a disability the equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling. For example, under the law, an apartment complex that does not allow dogs must make an exception for a blind person who uses a guide dog.
Small and affordable modifications to housing facilities often are all that is needed to significantly improve the lives of persons with disabilities, said R. Alexander Acosta. This guidance will assist housing providers in understanding their legal obligation to help ensure that persons with disabilities have access to housing. We expect the guidelines issued today to help clarify for housing providers and local officials their obligations under the reasonable accommodations provision of the Fair Housing Act, said Caroline Peoples, HUDs Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. We also believe the guidelines will help renters better understand how the laws protect them. HUD and DOJ share responsibility for enforcing the Fair Housing Act. The guidance covers such topics as: What is a reasonable accommodation? Who must comply with the reasonable accommodation requirement? Under what circumstances may a housing provider deny a requested accommodation? What procedures may be utilized for processing requests? * What types of information and documentation may a housing provider seek from an applicant pertaining to a request? * What procedures are available to a person wishing to challenge a denial of a requested accommodation? Through the Presidents New Freedom Initiative, the Civil Rights Division and HUD are committed to providing greater access for Americans with disabilities. Since Jan. 20, 2001, the Civil Rights Division has filed 112 lawsuits under the Fair Housing Act, including 44 lawsuits alleging discrimination based on disability. Moreover, the Division has successfully resolved over 1,000 disability-related complaints and lawsuits that have secured enhanced access to housing, public accommodations and services. The Division works with businesses to achieve voluntary compliance, consults with municipalities to bring public facilities up to code and coordinates with states to conform state accessibility codes to federal standards.
Also since Jan. 20, 2001, HUD and its substantially equivalent state and local agencies conciliated 3,886 cases of discrimination in which disability was alleged and determined enforcement action was warranted in another 436 cases.
The FHA prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, or familial status (having children under 18). Persons who believe that they have been victims of unlawful housing discrimination should contact HUD at 1-800-669-9777 or the Department of Justice at 1-800-896-7743 or 202-514-4713. Additional information is available at www.hud.gov and www.usdoj.gov.
The Joint Statement of the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Justice is available online through the website for the Housing and Civil Enforcement Section of the Civil Rights Division of DOJ as well as through HUDs website at: www.usdoj.gov/crt/housing/caselist.htm#disabil>
Source: US Department of Justice
