City Agrees to Settlement of Housing Discrimination Suit with DOJ

Courts State Issues DOJ FHA Department of Treasury Litigation

On May 26, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the city of Jacksonville, Florida (city), agreed on a settlement over claims that the city violated the Fair Housing Act (FHA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The DOJ alleged that the city denied permission for the development of permanent supportive housing for individuals with disabilities in an historic district and discriminated on the basis of the intended residents’ disabilities.

The settlement provides for a civil penalty of $25,000 to be paid to the U.S. Treasury as well as the creation by the city of a $1.5 million grant to be awarded to a qualified developer of permanent supportive housing in the community. The city also agreed to take additional specific steps to comply with the requirements of the ADA and FHA.

Two other plaintiffs whose suits were consolidated with the DOJ’s—Ability Housing, Inc. and Disability Rights Florida, Inc.—also received compensation for reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs.

As part of the settlement, the city denied any wrongdoing alleged by the DOJ.