Press Release  AG Healey Delivers Keynote at Civil Rights Conference, Honors 50th Anniversary of Fair Housing Act

Springfield — In recognition of the 50^th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act, Attorney General Maura Healey today delivered the keynote address at the Fair Housing and Civil Rights Conference hosted by the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD), the Massachusetts Fair Housing Center, and Way Finders. AG Healey highlighted the importance of the law and announced recent actions taken by the AG’s Office to enforce fair housing laws in Massachusetts.

“Good housing is a basic civil right,” said AG Healey. “When our residents have access to safe, affordable housing, our families are healthier and children do better in school. We mark the 50^th Anniversary of the Fair Housing Act with a renewed commitment to ensure fair and equal access to housing for all Massachusetts families.”

Since AG Healey took office in January 2015, the Office has resolved dozens of fair housing matters and recovered nearly $500,000 in restitution, penalties, and other relief for Massachusetts residents in fair housing matters. The following are recent examples of the work of the office:

• Last month, the AG’s Office entered into a settlement with Marcus Garvey Associates LP and SHP Management Corp., which own and manage Marcus Garvey Garden Apartments, a 161-unit complex in Roxbury. The agreement settles claims that these businesses discriminated against a tenant based on disability and sex. As a result, the tenant will receive $15,000, and the companies will adopt better policies and procedures and will train staff on fair housing laws.
• Also in March, the Suffolk Superior Court approved a Consent Judgment between the AG’s Office and Matteo Gallo as the trustee of Ocean View Nominee Trust (OVNT), following a lawsuit filed by the AG’s Office alleging that the defendant discriminated against a prospective tenant because he was recipient of public assistance (a Section 8 housing voucher). OVNT owns and manages approximately 31 housing units in three buildings located in Woburn, where the tenant was looking to rent. As a result of the Consent Judgement, OVNT will pay $24,000 to the prospective tenant, adopt better policies and procedures, and train staff on fair housing laws.
• In January the AG’s Office filed a lawsuit against Redbrook Village, LLC and Residential Management Corp., for violating fair housing and consumer protection laws. The AG’s Office alleges that the defendants, which own and manage an affordable housing complex in Orange, discriminated against a tenant who uses a wheelchair based on her disability by denying and delaying reasonable modifications and accommodations necessary for her to use and enjoy her apartment.

These settlements continue the AG’s ongoing efforts to protect the civil rights of all Massachusetts residents and were handled by staff from the AG’s Civil Rights Division, including Assistant Attorneys General Kimberly Strovink, Jon Burke, and Ann Lynch, with assistance from investigator Marlee Greer of AG Healey’s Civil Investigations Division.

The AG’s Office also issued an advisory reminding housing providers that all tenants have a right to be free from harassment and intimidation. The advisory makes clear that harassment and intimidation—including sexual harassment—based on any protected characteristic is unlawful. The advisory also clarifies that tenants have a right to be treated fairly irrespective of their immigration status and that it is unlawful for landlords to threaten to report tenants to immigration authorities in order to coerce or pressure them (or their family members) to refrain from exercising any of their rights.

Also available on the AG’s Fair Housing webpage are materials addressing the use of criminal records in housing and an overview of the law regarding lead paint and discrimination against families with children.           

As part of Fair Housing Month, the AG’s Office also will be hosting a special Community Action Hours addressing housing issues on April 18. The event will be held from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Great Hall of the Codman Square Health Center at 6 Norfolk Street in Dorchester.

If you believe you have been a victim of housing discrimination you may file a civil rights complaint.

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