The Hazleton Housing Authority in Pennsylvania has been ordered to pay $18,000 as settlement for the allegations filed against them by six Latino families. The settlement was announced Wednesday by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development or HUD. The members of these families said that the housing agency violated their civil rights by denying to provide them services because they lack proficiency in the English language. They also claimed that they were given different rental terms and conditions, which was a clear violation of the Fair Housing Act. They claimed that Spanish-speaking tenants and housing applicants were made to provide their own interpreters to be able to communicate with the staff of the housing authority. The Latino families were represented by a nonprofit public interest law firm, Community Justice Project.
$14,000 out of the total settlement money will be paid to the Community Justice Project, which will then distribute the money among the affected residents while the $4,000 will be for attorney fees.
The Hazleton Housing Authority was also ordered by federal officials to hire bilingual staff and train them in cultural sensitivity and fair housing awareness. They must also promote their language access services, the availability of housing to Latinos when the waiting list becomes open, and desist from requiring residents and applicants to bring their friends or family to act as their interpreters.
The HUD also announced that the housing authority will provide services for complainants and other people who lack English language skills, including translation and interpretation services for people who make inquiries about the Housing Choice Voucher Program or housing availability whether in person, over the phone or through written communication.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development also made it clear that when the local housing authority receives funding from the HUD, they are obliged to have their services and programs accessible to all individuals, including those with limited proficiency in the English language. HUD Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Gustavo Velasquez also said that the HUD is committed to provide all eligible families an equal opportunity to have access to affordable housing. He said that the agreement reached during the settlement of the complaints lodged by the six Latino families is proof that the HUD is serious about reaching its goals.
Hazleton Housing Authority must have at least one bilingual Spanish-speaking staff at all times during business hours and also hire at least one bilingual Spanish-speaking frontline staff to be of service whenever vacancies in the properties of the housing authority become available.
Moreover, based on the settlement agreement, the Hazleton Housing Authority must remove the signs they have posted at its properties that ask applicants and tenants to bring along an interpreter whenever they have to communicate with the authority. The local housing authority is now required to post new signs that tell Latinos that when they need an interpreter, the Hazleton Housing Authority will provide one for free. The new signs are required to be written in Spanish and in English.
Image Copyright: savone / 123RF Stock Photo
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