United States v. Housing Authority of Baltimore City (D. Md.)

On September 29, 2004, the United States filed a complaint and consent decree in the United States v. Housing Authority of Baltimore City (D. Md.). The complaint alleged that HABC engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination against persons with disabilities in violation of the Fair Housing Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Specifically, it alleged that HABC discriminated in both its public housing and Section 8 subsidized housing programs by refusing to admit non-elderly persons with disabilities; failing to make its public housing units, their common areas, and its administrative offices accessible; and failing to provide sufficient assistance to persons with physical or mental disabilities who sought to rent private units through HABC’s Section 8 housing subsidy program. Under the 2004 agreement, HABC had to implement changes to its housing facilities, programs, policies and practices; commit several million dollars to provide over 2,000 new housing opportunities for individuals with disabilities; and pay $1,039,000 in damages. On October 29, 2015, the court entered a Supplemental Consent Decree in United States v. Housing Authority of Baltimore City (D. Md.), which amended the original decree by setting final and certain deadlines for the performance of some of the initial obligations that the Housing Authority still had to meet.   In addition, the Supplemental Consent Decree requires that the Housing Authority of Baltimore City impose certain terms on private owners who will be acquiring several public housing properties pursuant to the Rental Assistance Demonstration Program (“RAD”) authorized by Congress in 2012.  These terms, among others, include adhering to policies and practices that protect the rights of public housing tenants and persons with disabilities.