HUD ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT WITH MAINE LANDLORDS TO SETTLE COMPLAINTS OF HOUSING DISCRIMINATING AGAINST FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN
Apartment Owner Cited Presence of Lead Paint as Basis for Denial

BOSTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced today that Jane and Donald Belanger, owners of three apartment buildings in and around Winthrop, Maine will pay $5,000 as part of an agreement resolving allegations that the owners refused to rent to families with children.

The Fair Housing Act makes it unlawful to discriminate in the sale or rental of housing on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability or familial status.

"Refusing to lease a home to a family with children unfairly limits housing choice and violates the Fair Housing Act," said Kristine Foye, HUD New England Acting Regional Administrator. "HUD will continue to enforce the law when it comes to protecting the fair housing rights of families with children."

The case came to HUD's attention when Pine Tree Legal Assistance, a non-profit fair housing organization that receives HUD funding, filed a complaint alleging that testing they conducted revealed that Jane and Donald Belanger refused to rent to families with children. The complaint alleged that the Belanger's placed an advertisement in their local newspaper for the rental of an apartment and that the ad discriminated against families by saying "best for a single person or couple with no children." The complaint was supported by recorded evidence obtained by a fair housing tester of the owner saying that she did not want children to live in the apartment. HUD's investigation also revealed that the landlords held security deposits for their tenants with families, but held no security deposits for other tenants.

Under the terms of the agreement the owners will pay $5,000 to Pine Tree Legal Assistance; they will delead two of their rental units at a cost of approximately $3,000 per unit; affirmatively market to families; return the security deposits and partial rent of existing tenant families; hold two units for rent to families with children; and fully fund two scholarships for summer camp at the local YMCA. The total compensation and relief obtained by HUD in this case is valued at $15,168.

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 (800) 669-9777 (voice), (800) 927-9275 (TTY).

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