DENVER - Bob Troyer, U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado, is urging members of the public to come forward to report incidents of sexual harassment in housing to the U.S. Department of Justice.
“Landlords taking advantage of vulnerable tenants are predators," said U.S. Attorney Bob Troyer. “Sexual harassment or assault by landlords, property managers, and others in a position of power over tenants’ housing situations is illegal. We know from the stories we have heard across the country that much of this behavior goes unreported. Today, I am encouraging victims and concerned citizens to contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office to report those who engage in this illegal and abusive behavior."
In October 2017, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division announced the Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative, an effort to combat sexual harassment in housing. On April 12, 2018, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the nationwide expansion of that initiative and the formation of a joint task force with the Department of Housing and Urban Development to address this issue. The Justice Department’s initiative seeks to identify barriers to reporting sexual harassment in housing, increase awareness of the Justice Department’s enforcement efforts - both among survivors and those they may report to - and collaborate with federal, state, and local partners to increase reporting and help survivors quickly and easily connect with federal resources.
On July 12, 2018, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado, in partnership with the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, hosted a Community Roundtable in Denver to address the problem of sexual harassment in housing. A range of concerned community members who serve and represent constituencies who may be targets of sexual predators attended to learn about the Fair Housing Act’s protections against sexual harassment, and to start a dialogue about how to combat this problem.
“Our office is working with concerned Coloradans to address this vexing problem, but we need the community’s help to encourage survivors to know their rights and to speak out," said U.S. Attorney Troyer.
Yesterday, the Justice Department announced the release of a public service announcement (PSA) aimed at raising awareness and reaching victims of sexual harassment in housing. To enhance the effectiveness of the Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative, the Department has enlisted the assistance of victims to share their experiences and help convey the message that sexual harassment in housing is a violation of civil rights. The Justice Department and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) are working together to distribute the PSA. The PSA is posted on the Department’s Youtube channel and HUD’s Youtube channel.
Individuals who believe they have been victims of discrimination can call the Civil Rights Division at 1-(844) 380-6178 or e-mail fairhousing@usdoj.gov, or they can contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado at (303) 454-0100 (press 4 for the civil duty attorney), or e-mail usaco.civilrights@usdoj.gov
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
