The landlord refused to rent an apartment to a woman who had a young son.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that owners of a residential property in Oklahoma City agreed to pay to settle a lawsuit claiming they violated the Fair Housing Act. The management agent allegedly refused to rent an apartment to a single mother after learning she had a three-year-old son. The mother then filed a complaint with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which referred the discrimination case to the Justice Department.
“The Fair Housing Act has long prohibited landlords from denying renters simply because they have children. Unfortunately, this type of discrimination still occurs today,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department is committed to seeking relief for families who are harmed when landlords illegally exclude them from housing because of their family status.”
“A home should bring a family together, not force a mother to choose between a roof over her head and her own child,” said Assistant HUD Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Craig Trainor. “When Congress amended the Fair Housing Act in 1988 to prohibit familial status discrimination, it denied landlords the power to force that unconscionable choice. The Department will continue to use its authority to protect the integrity of the family and hold accountable landlords who violate their legal obligations.“
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Assistant Attorney General Dhillon and members of the DOJ’s Civil Division as they work to ensure compliance with federal anti-discrimination laws.
- For Assistant Secretary Trainor as he oversees HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity.
Sources: Department of Justice
