California Housing Authorities Settle Disability Discrimination Claims

HUD recently announced that it has reached a Conciliation/Voluntary Compliance Agreement with the Housing Authority of the County of Contra Costa (HACCC) and the Vallejo Housing Authority (VHA), both located in California, resolving allegations that they violated the Fair Housing Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act when they allegedly denied a request by a resident with disabilities to extend her search time to find suitable housing that would accept her Housing Choice Voucher.

HUD became involved in the case after a woman filed a complaint alleging that the housing authorities denied her reasonable accommodation request for additional time to find a suitable housing unit where she could use her Housing Choice Voucher, causing her to lose her voucher.

Under the agreement, HACCC and VHA will pay the woman a total of $10,000. HACCC will also reinstate the woman’s Housing Choice Voucher and VHA will port her voucher into its jurisdiction. In addition, the woman will be given more time to locate and lease housing, and VHA will revise its Extension of Voucher Term policy.