Civil Rights Department Reaches Settlement Over Alleged Harassment and Eviction of Section 8 Tenant in Sacramento

SACRAMENTO – The California Civil Rights Department (CRD) today announced reaching a fair housing settlement with the owners of an individual rental property in Sacramento. The settlement comes after the state filed a lawsuit in 2022 against the landlords for allegedly discriminating against a tenant based on her race, disability, and use of housing assistance through Section 8, and for retaliating against and harassing the tenant when she attempted to assert her rights. As a result of the settlement, the property owners are required to pay $42,500 and take other actions to protect any potential future tenants against unlawful discrimination.

“No matter the circumstances, racial slurs and retaliation are unacceptable,” said CRD Director Kevin Kish.“Despite living at the property for years, the tenant in this case was still threatened and harassed simply for speaking out about her rights. Plain and simple: Landlords cannot discriminate against people for using rental assistance. This case also makes it clear that one form of discrimination often goes hand in hand with others. I applaud the tenant for making her voice heard and our team at the Civil Rights Department for bringing this lawsuit to a resolution. We will continue to do our part to help protect the civil rights of all our state’s residents.”

Unlawful Charges, Eviction, and Harassment

In late 2022, CRD filed a lawsuit alleging that the owners of a rental property in Sacramento unlawfully evicted a tenant and subjected her to harassment, discrimination, and retaliation based on her race, disability, and use of Section 8 rental assistance. According to the lawsuit, the tenant’s ordeal began when she learned from the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency, a local organization that helps facilitate Section 8, that she was not required to make additional payments of $150 per month that her landlords had been charging for utilities for years. The utilities were already supposed to be included in the base rent of the contract.

After the tenant informed the landlords and indicated that she would no longer be making the payments, she was allegedly subjected to racial slurs, derogatory remarks, unlawful threats of eviction, and other forms of harassment. Eventually, the tenant was locked out of her home while in the process of moving out and prevented from getting back in to access essential belongings, including medical equipment, family heirlooms, and photographs. In the years prior, the tenant had also allegedly been unable to fully enjoy the property because of the landlords’ repeated denials of her requests for reasonable modifications to accommodate her disability.

Settlement Brings A Resolution

The settlement announced today aims to resolve the state’s lawsuit, which was the first filed by the state under expanded protections related to source of income following the passage of Senate Bill 329. As part of the terms of the agreement, the landlords, without admitting liability, will take a range of actions to help protect against future discrimination, such as:

• Taking training on state civil rights protections related to housing.
• Including language in any future rental advertisements that makes it clear that Section 8 participants are welcome to apply.
• Refraining from unlawful discrimination and harassment against any future tenants.
• Paying $42,500 as compensation for the tenant and CRD’s legal costs.

State Protects Civil Rights in Housing

California continues to take action to combat housing discrimination in all its forms. Earlier this year, CRD filed a lawsuit against the owners of an Oakland senior living community over allegedly refusing to accept Section 8 rental assistance. In April, the department announced a $90,000 settlement after a Bay Area family was allegedly lowballed in a home appraisal. The department also secured a $280,000 settlement over allegations that a longtime property manager at a Bakersfield apartment complex engaged in years of unwelcome sexual harassment against tenants. Last year, CRD reached a $35,000 settlement with a Novato apartment complex, ending their alleged ban on Section 8 rental assistance. The department also filed a lawsuit against a San Bernardino landlord for effectively forcing a tenant out after she began to participate in the Section 8 program. Since the passage of Senate Bill 329 in 2019, CRD has secured more than 250 settlements based on the use of rental assistance programs like Section 8.

If you or someone you know has experienced housing discrimination, CRD may be able to assist you through its complaint process. The department also provides general information and factsheets online about civil rights protections, including with respect to your rights in housing. Members of the public may also report discriminatory ads that attempt to unlawfully screen out housing applicants with Section 8.

The settlement announced today was secured by Staff Counsel Nassim Moallem, Senior Staff Counsel Jenny Chhea, Associate Chief Counsel Azadeh Hosseinian, and Assistant Chief Counsel Asaf Orr.

A copy of the settlement is available here. A copy of the underlying lawsuit is available here.

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.

View Press Release (PDF) Civil Rights Department Reaches Settlement Over Alleged Harassment and Eviction of Section 8 Tenant in Sacramento