Enforcement
The Connecticut Fair Housing Center’s enforcement program concentrates on changing illegal discriminatory housing practices with a particular emphasis on those illegal practices which affect low-income households.
Center staff investigate claims of discrimination to determine if there is evidence that a violation of the law occurred. If the Center uncovers evidence of discrimination, the Center’s attorneys work to change that practice and obtain compensation for the victims of housing discrimination. The Center’s attorneys frequently bring enforcement actions at the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and in state and federal court. In addition, the Center often works with private attorneys to better represent the interests of the victims of housing discrimination.
Some examples of cases in which the Center succeeded in both changing illegal discriminatory housing practices and obtaining compensation for the victims of housing discrimination include:
- Assisted a man in a wheelchair in getting permission from his condominium association to build a ramp;
- Obtained $15,500 in compensation for a woman denied an apartment because a landlord refused to accept her Section 8 rental assistance voucher;
- Opened up more than 200 units of housing to housing voucher holders and obtained more than $16,000 in compensation for a woman whose landlord refused to accept her new housing voucher;
- Represented a woman with children under six who was denied an apartment because of lead paint. The Center obtained $20,000 in compensation for the woman in addition to an agreement that the owner of the property would delead thus opening up more than 175 units of housing to families with children.
If you think you have been the victim of a discriminatory housing practice click here and provide us with some information about what occurred. Someone from our office will contact you about your complaint.
