Owners of Nevada apartment complex to pay $75,000 to families with children

WASHINGTON – January 14, 2008 – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today announced a settlement agreement with two Las Vegas landlords for alleged violations of the Fair Housing Act. Sun and Christine Young, owners of Summer Place Apartments voluntarily agreed to pay $75,000 to several tenants; to cease discriminatory practices against families with children; and to stop refusing to make reasonable accommodations to persons with disabilities.

“Finding safe and affordable housing for families can be difficult, and it should not be complicated by persons who refuse to rent to people with children, or to make reasonable accommodations,” said Kim Kendrick, HUD’s Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. “Equal access is more important than ever and we are extremely pleased with Summer Place Apartments’ responsiveness and its commitment to achieve full civil rights compliance.”

Under the agreement, Summer Place Apartments will:

• Pay $75,000 to families who were adversely affected by the owners’ discriminatory practices. Included in the $75,000 is $35,000 to a woman who was evicted because she had a child under the age of 18; a total of $10,500 to three individuals whom the owners tried to evict because they have children; and $29,500 to create a fund to compensate other persons who show they were denied housing going back to December 1, 2005, because they have a child or were pregnant.
• Stop advertising Summer Place Apartments as an “Adult Community.”
• Stop denying applicants with children the opportunity to rent based on their familial status.

The agreement, announced today, is voluntary and is a full settlement of the disputed complaint. Summer Place and its agent admit no wrongdoing.

FHEO and its partners in the Fair Housing Assistance Program investigate approximately 10,000 housing discrimination complaints annually. People who believe they are the victims of housing discrimination should contact HUD at 1 (800) 669-9777 (voice), (800) 927-9275 (TTY). Additional information is available at www.hud.gov/fairhousing. Stay on top of the most up-to-date news regarding the Fair Housing Act by signing up for the FHEO RSS Feed at www.hud.gov/offices/fheo/index.cfm.

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HUD is the nation’s housing agency committed to increasing homeownership, particularly among minorities; creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans; and supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and people living with AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development as well as enforces the nation’s fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov.