HUD ANNOUNCES HOUSING DISCRIMINATION SETTLEMENT
$50,000 in Las Vegas case involving refusal to rent to families with children

SAN FRANCISCO - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced today a settlement of a complaint of housing discrimination filed against the Desert Rose apartment complex, Las Vegas, Nevada. The complaint was filed by Kim Kendrick, Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity under the authority granted by the Fair Housing Act (FHA).

In the complaint, Assistant Secretary Kendrick alleged that the Desert Rose apartment complex violated the Fair Housing Act by enforcing a policy of not renting to families with children. Following a thorough investigation, the parties agreed to voluntarily issues outlined in the complaint with a settlement agreement, which was executed on September 30, 2008.

"While I am glad that we were able to settle this matter, housing providers must learn that that they will not get away with acts of housing discrimination," said Assistant Secretary Kendrick. "Forty years after the Fair Housing Act, a family with children should not have to move out of State to find housing!"

The terms of the agreement include a $30,000 monetary settlement to a Desert Rose resident who alleged that she was not allowed to have her minor daughter reside with her because of the Desert Rose policy of not renting to families with children. Another resident, who alleged that her grandchildren were denied use of the complex's
swimming pool, received $5,000 under the terms of the agreement.

The owners and management agents of the Desert Rose complex also agreed to establish an escrow account to provide relief to other individuals who claim they were harmed by Desert Rose's policy of not renting to families with children. The Desert Rose apartments will advertise the availability of the fund in a local newspaper. Individuals who believe they may be entitled to compensation from the fund will be able to contact the fund's escrow account custodian to file a claim.

Individuals who believe they may qualify for a claim because they were denied the opportunity to rent an apartment at the Desert Rose complex because of its no child policy can send an email to Desert.Rose.Settlement@hud.gov or contact Chuck Hauptman, HUD Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, 600 Harrison Street 3rd floor, San Francisco, California 94107, or they can call (415) 489-6536.

Under the Federal Fair Housing Act, it is illegal to deny housing to families with children unless the property meets specific requirements to qualify as housing for seniors. If anyone believes they have been illegally denied the opportunity to rent or purchase a home because of their family status they should file a complaint with HUD by
calling 1-(800) 669-9777 or going on line at http://www.hud.gov/complaints/housediscrim.cfm.

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