DFEH Settles Housing Discrimination Case Against the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles

Los Angeles – The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) reached a settlement in a housing discrimination case with the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) involving a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) holder who alleged that she was denied a reasonable accommodation.

The complainant filed a complaint with DFEH in June 2017 alleging that she requested permission from HACLA to remove the automatic-door closer in her subsidized unit, as the closer made it difficult and painful for her to open her door because of her disability. The complainant alleged that HACLA ignored multiple requests for an accommodation until she filed a complaint with DFEH.

After DFEH found cause to believe a violation of the Fair Employment and Housing Act had occurred, the parties engaged in mandatory mediation resulting in a settlement in which HACLA agreed to extensive affirmative relief to make its reasonable accommodations and interactive processes more responsive to client requests.

“As the second largest public housing authority in the nation, HACLA’s compliance with fair housing laws in its Section 8 and public housing program affects thousands of low-income residents,” said DFEH Director Kevin Kish. “We are pleased that HACLA is taking proactive measures to ensure equal access to their programs for individuals with disabilities.”

Under the settlement, HACLA will review all of its current policies, practices, procedures, and training; launch an improved tracking system for requests for reasonable accommodation; and ensure all materials are available in accessible formats and in languages understood by residents, among other actions. HACLA will report to DFEH and the two entities will meet to monitor implementation and progress on the settlement terms.

Staff Counsel Denise Levey and Assistant Chief Counsel Paula Pearlman represented the DFEH in this matter.

The California Civil Rights Department (CRD) is the state agency charged with enforcing California’s civil rights laws. CRD’s mission is to protect the people of California from unlawful discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, and state-funded programs and activities, and from hate violence and human trafficking. For more information, visit calcivilrights.ca.gov.

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