HUD ANNOUNCES FAIR HOUSING AGREEMENT WITH TUCSON TO SETTLE HOUSING DISCRIMINATION COMPLAINT
Resident receives accommodation and financial compensation in settlement agreement.

SAN FRANCISCO - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced today that it reached a $25,000 agreement with the Tucson House Apartments and the City of Tucson Housing & Community Development Department. The settlement resolves a complaint filed by a disabled resident who alleged that he was denied a one-bedroom unit as a reasonable accommodation because management of Tucson House Apartments delayed responding to his request.

The Fair Housing Act makes it unlawful to refuse to make reasonable accommodations that would allow a person with a disability to fully enjoy her home. Similarly, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits providers of federally-assisted housing from denying housing to or discriminating against persons with disabilities.

"Persons with disabilities aren't asking for special treatment when they request reasonable accommodations and they have a right to expect a timely response," said Ophelia Basgal, HUD Regional Administrator. "HUD is committed to ensuring that housing providers, federally-assisted or not, meet their obligation to grant reasonable accommodations to people with disabilities when they are needed."

The City of Tucson Housing & Community Development Department agreed to transfer the resident to a one-bedroom unit which meets his needs. The transfer took effect on May 31, 2012.  The conciliation agreement also included that the City of Tucson Housing & Community Development Department will:

• Pay the resident $25,000 to compensate for the pain and suffering and emotional distress.
• Agree to process requests for reasonable accommodation for transfers made by other disabled tenants as soon as appropriately-sized units become available.
• Agree to revise its occupancy plan related to reasonable accommodation requests.
• Change transfer policy related to reasonable accommodations.

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