HUD APPROVES SETTLEMENT INVOLVING CALIFORNIA HOUSING PROVIDERS ACCUSED OF SEXUALLY HARASSING A TENANT

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced today that it has approved a Conciliation Agreement between EAH, Inc., and Turina Associates, LP, housing providers in San Rafael, California, and a female resident of one of its properties and Fair Housing Advocates of Northern California, resolving allegations that a maintenance worker sexually harassed the woman, and that after the woman reported the harassment she was retaliated against by being denied a reasonable accommodation she needed due to her disability and ultimately evicted. Read the Conciliation Agreement.

The Fair Housing Act makes it unlawful for a housing provider to discriminate on the basis of sex, national origin, disability, color, race, religion, and familial status, including sexually harassing tenants, retaliating against persons for exercising their fair housing rights, and refusing to grant reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities.

“No one should be subjected to unwanted sexual advances or unlawful treatment in the place they should feel the safest, their home,” said Anna María Farías, HUD's Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. “Today’s settlement reaffirms HUD’s commitment to ensuring that housing providers meet their obligation to comply with the requirements of the Fair Housing Act.”

People who believe they have experienced discrimination may file a complaint by contacting HUD's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity at (800) 669-9777 (voice) or (800) 927-9275 (TTY). Housing discrimination complaints may also be filed by going to hud.gov/fairhousing.