May 20, 2015
The FHA/HUD official site has announced an important housing discrimination settlement between HUD and a housing authority in Pennsylvania. According to HUDNo. 15-055, “The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced today a Conciliation Agreement with the Housing Authority of the City of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, settling allegations the housing authority discriminated against Hispanic households.”
The agreement, the HUD press release states, resolves claims that the Hazleton, Pennsylvania housing authority, “violated the housing rights of Spanish-speaking applicants and tenants by requiring them to supply interpreters in order to communicate with housing authority staff and by denying them limited English proficiency services.”
This, the press release states, is a violation of the Fair Housing Act.
“When housing authorities accept HUD funding they are obligated to make their programs and services accessible to individuals who have limited English proficiency,” Gustavo Velasquez, HUD Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity stated in the press release, adding, HUD is committed to ensuring that all eligible families have an equal opportunity to take advantage of this important source of affordable housing and todays agreement advances that goal.”
While this development may not seem to have much to do with FHA loans, it’s important to remember that Fair Housing laws extend beyond rentals, housing assistance, etc. Home buyers are also protected under the Fair Housing act. The case mentioned here only came to light because those who felt discriminated against reported the violations. From the press release:
“The case came to HUDs attention when six Latino families represented by the Community Justice Project, a non-profit public interest law firm serving Pennsylvania, complained that the Hazleton Housing Authority subjectedLatino applicants and residents to different rental terms and conditions in violation of the Fair Housing Act. In addition, the complaints alleged the housing authority denied limited English proficiency services to Spanish-speaking individuals in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI). The families who filed complaints are public housing and Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher recipients, tenants, and applicants for housing with limited English.”
Those who experience violations of the Fair Housing act are the first line of defense–reporting the violations is the only way the FHA/HUD can investigate the problem. Any FHA loan applicant who feels they have experienced a violation of federal fair housing laws should contact HUD immediately by calling them at (800) 669-9777(voice) or(800) 927-9275(TTY).
Do you have questions about FHA loan rules? Ask us in the comments section.
Joe Wallace has been specializing in military and personal finance topics since 1995. His work has appeared on Air Force Television News, The Pentagon Channel, ABC and a variety of print and online publications. He is a 13-year Air Force veteran and a member of the Air Force Public Affairs Alumni Association. He was Managing editor for www.valoans.com for (8) years and is currently the Associate Editor for FHANewsblog.com.
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