3/11/2025

National Alliance to End Homelessness,
Written by Alec Vandenberg February 19, 2025

Importantly, the Equal Access Rule is still in effect, as the recission of the rule is neither legal nor enforceable until HUD formally withdraws it via the rulemaking process. Advocates can begin taking steps today to defend the progress made by the Equal Access Rule, in particular the ability of and gender-expansive people (i.e., transgender people, non-binary people, or those who do not uniformly identify as “female” or “male”) to access services in the homelessness response system.

To read this blog entry, please click here

3/11/2025

Secretary Scott Turner Halts Enforcement Actions of HUD’s Gender Identity Rule

WASHINGTON - Secretary Turner issued an order directing the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to halt any pending or future enforcement actions related to HUD’s 2016 rule entitled “Equal Access in Accordance With an Individual’s Gender Identity in Community Planning and Development Programs.” Secretary Turner’s action will ensure housing programs, shelters and other HUD-funded providers offer services to Americans based on their sex at birth: male or female.

To read the full press release, please click here

3/11/2025

From the White House, Presidential Actions, Jan. 20, 2025

Please click here to read the full statement

12/16/2024

Monday, April 8, 2024

The Justice Department announced today that Michigan landlord, Mohamad Hussein, has agreed to pay $185,000 in damages and a civil penalty to the government to resolve the Fair Housing Act (FHA) lawsuit concerning Hussein’s sexual harassment of actual and prospective female tenants. Hussein has owned and managed over 15 rental properties in and around Dearborn Heights, Michigan, since 2013.

To read the DOJ Article, please click here

12/16/2024

Nov 19, 2024 Updated Nov 19, 2024

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A Lexington, Kentucky, landlord was sued by the U.S. Justice Department over sexual harassment allegations and retaliation.

Adnan Shalash is accused of sexually harassing female tenants and retaliating against them if they refused his sexual advances, which the Justice Department said is a violation of the Fair Housing Act.

To read the full article, please click: here

4/15/2024

To view the HUD charge, please click:

here

11/20/2023

by Anna Coon, WGME Thu, November 16th 2023

LEWISTON (WGME) – The Department of Justice filed a civil lawsuit against a Maine landlord on Thursday, on claims that he had been sexually harassing his tenants for years.

The Justice Department claims the defendant, Fred Wheeler of Manchester, violated the Fair Housing Act, and is seeking monetary damages for any people who may have been harmed by the alleged harassment.

To read the full article from WGME, click here.

11/17/2023

Arizona Republic

April 19, 2023

An Arizona mortgage firm, Discount Mortgage Advisors LLC, has agreed to pay two customers a total of $5,000 after they accused the firm of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, according to the Arizona Attorney General's Office and a copy of the settlement agreement.

To read the full Arizona Republic Artcle, click here

11/17/2023

Apr 20, 2023, 3:29 PM

BY ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW LONDON, Conn. (AP) — A former Connecticut landlord must pay $400,000 to settle a federal lawsuit alleging he violated the Fair Housing Act by sexually harassing and victimizing his female tenants for at least five years, including evicting or threatening to evict those who objected to or refused his sexual advances.

To read the full MyNorthwest Article, click here

10/12/2023

SEATTLE (KOMO) — A recent survey revealed that renters a part of the LGBTQ+ community are more likely to face financial barriers in relation to homeownership when compared to their non-LGBTQ+ renter counterparts.

To read the full KOMO News article, please click here

4/05/2023

The goal of the LGBTQIA+ Fair Housing Toolkit is to educate housing providers, tenants, applicants and other housing consumers on LGBTQIA+ fair housing protections to advance housing equity for LGBTQIA+ individuals.

This toolkit:

• Provides an overview of key fair housing laws, regulations, and executive orders related to LGBTQIA+ protections
• Provides a summary of HUD’s Equal Access Rule
• Describes the specific protected housing rights of LGBTQIA+ individuals
• Introduces housing providers to culturally competent definitions and terminology used when discussing sexual orientation and gender identity
• Provides information on the ways housing providers can prevent housing discrimination in their daily operations
• Provides detailed information on how and when an individual can report housing discrimination

To view the full toolkit, click here

3/03/2023

Thursday, March 2, 2023

GRAND RAPIDS – The Justice Department announced today that it has secured an agreement to resolve a lawsuit alleging that Muskegon, Michigan, landlord Darrell Jones violated the Fair Housing Act by sexually harassing female tenants. The settlement also resolves claims against Fatima Jones and Jones Investing, LLC, which, along with Jones, owned the properties where the harassment occurred.

“The sexual harassment of tenants is an intolerable abuse of power that violates federal civil rights laws,” said U.S. Attorney Mark A. Totten for the Western District of Michigan. “No one should have to endure harassment and discrimination, especially in their own homes. My office is committed to protecting the rights of vulnerable tenants and will continue to vigorously enforce the Fair Housing Act to combat discrimination and secure justice for victims.”

For the full article, click here

1/30/2023

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF WISCONSIN
Civil Action No. 22-cv-273

Since at least 2000, and continuing until the present, Defendant Richard Donahue has subjected tenants of the Subject Properties to discrimination on the basis of sex, including unwelcome and severe or pervasive sexual harassment.

To read the full complaint filed, click here

1/30/2023

Dec. 22, 2022, 9:41 AM PST

By Antonio Planas

Joseph Centanni, 75, targeted male and female tenants or prospective tenants "who were homeless, about to be evicted, or otherwise struggling financially," Union County prosecutors say.

To read the full NBC news article, click here