1999 Best Practices
Success Stories

Program Name:			Civil Rights Protection Plan
Program Focus:			Fair Housing
Geographic Area:			New England
State:			Massachusetts
City:			Boston

Executive Summary
The Boston Housing Authority (BHA) and the Boston HUD Office of Counsel have implemented a comprehensive plan to eliminate hate crimes and discrimination in public housing projects. Together, the agencies developed a Civil Rights Protection Plan (CRPP); a set of guidelines to ensure that public housing residents and their visitors live in an environment free from discrimination based on age, religion, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.

To date, the CRPP has had a significant impact in reducing the incidence of hate crimes in Boston public housing. In one example which occurred in 1999, the plan helped evict three families from a South Boston community who were committing hate crimes against their fellow residents.

Central to the CRPP is the use of a set of "bias indicators" that help residents, BHA employees, and community members identify possible civil rights abuses. All BHA staff members are trained to recognize discriminatory graffiti and to use the proper channels to have the offensive material immediately photographed and removed. BHA employees also are required to participate in HUD-approved civil rights training programs and are evaluated on their use of the principles learned in these programs as part of their annual job performance reviews.

Through letters and meetings, tenants are educated about bias indicators and the CRPP’s zero tolerance policy toward discriminatory language, actions, and behavior. A 24-hour non-emergency hotline is provided for residents to use in reporting incidents. Once an incident has occurred, the BHA holds a formal, private conference with the head of the affected household to discuss the offense and to ensure that the resident has all the support and information needed. The incident is then reported to the Boston Police Department, which continues the investigation and, if necessary, files a civil action suit against the offender(s).

The CRPP also includes an outreach plan that emphasizes collaboration between the BHA and local community, youth, and religious leaders to establish a safe, tolerant environment for residents and their guests. Quarterly meetings are held with local law enforcement agencies, the Department of Justice, HUD, and tenant representatives to discuss progress made under the CRPP and additional strategies for combating the incidence of hate crimes.

Partly as a result of these meetings, the Boston Police Department agreed to supply additional uniformed officers for regular patrol of public housing communities in the Boston area. The police also work with residents to enhance neighborhood policing strategies that will empower residents, improve community-police relationships, and ensure that Boston public housing communities continue to set a positive example for progressive fair housing practices.

Partners: Boston Housing Authority, Boston HUD Office of Counsel, Department of Justice, and Boston Police Department

Financing: Various Funding Sources

Point of Contact:

Minniard Culpepper, Phone: (617) 565-5126