COACH's Pop Quiz!

Q: You just found out that a resident tested positive for COVID-19. You can’t get into fair housing trouble if you notify all the residents on her floor about it so they can take extra precautions to avoid exposure. True or false?

A: False. You may send a general notice to advise residents that there are active COVID cases at the community, but it’s not a good idea to disclose the names or unit numbers of people with the virus. Disclosure may not only violate the resident’s privacy, but also subject the resident to discrimination or harassment by others living at the community.

In the June 2020 lesson, Fair Housing Coach looks at how to avoid fair housing trouble while dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. Fair housing law may not be the first thing you think of when it comes dealing with the coronavirus crisis, but it’s important to remember that the law bans discrimination on the basis of race and national origin, disability, and other protected characteristics, even if motivated by concerns about COVID-19.

The June 2020 lesson, “How to Comply with Fair Housing Law While Dealing with Covid-19,” is available to subscribers here.