-----U.S. DEPARTMENT of JUSTICESTART----------------PRESS
RELEASE---------------------------
U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Public Affairs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, October 25, 2010
~Polk County, Florida, Agrees to Pay $400,000 to Settle
Disability Discrimination Lawsuit~
WASHINGTON The Justice Department today announced that Polk County,
Fla., has agreed to pay $400,000 in monetary damages and civil
penalties to settle a lawsuit alleging that it violated the Fair
Housing Act when it denied New Life Outreach Ministries the right
to operate a faith-based transitional residency program in
Lakeland, Fla., for homeless men with disabilities, including those
in recovery from drug and alcohol abuse. This lawsuit is part of
the Justice Departments continuing effort to enforce civil rights
laws that require states and municipalities to end discrimination
against, and unnecessary segregation of, persons with
disabilities.
Under the consent decree, which must still be approved by the U.S.
District Court for the Middle District of Florida, the county
agreed to pay $280,000 to New Life, up to $80,000 to individuals
who were forced to relocate from New Lifes property on Pipkin Road
as a result of the countys conduct and $40,000 to the government.
The consent decree also prohibits the county from further
discrimination and requires county employees who have
responsibilities related to zoning and land-use to receive
fair-housing training.
"Equal access to housing is a basic necessity and a civil right,
and the Fair Housing Act guarantees that all individuals can access
that right free from discrimination," said Thomas E. Perez,
Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. "This
settlement will ensure that the equal housing opportunities
required by law are available to all citizens of Polk County and
send a message to other states and municipalities that we have no
tolerance for discrimination against persons with any type of
disability."
The complaint in this case, which was filed by the Justice
Department on Sept. 30, 2010, alleges that the county twice
approved, in writing, New Lifes proposed use and affirmed that the
use was legal under the countys land development code. The
complaint also alleges that New Life purchased the property on
Pipkin Road in reliance on this written approval and that the
county reversed itself only after community opposition arose
because of the disabilities of New Lifes residents.
The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing based on
race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status
(having children under 18 years old) and disability.
More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it
enforces can be found at www.usdoj.gov/crt,
http://www.usdoj.gov/crt, http://www.usdoj.gov/crt .Individuals who
believe that they may have been victims of housing discrimination
can call the Housing Discrimination Tip Line: 1-800-896-7743 E-mail
the Justice Department [email protected] Department of Housing
& Urban Development 1-800-669-9777. Civil Rights Division
END--------------------------------------------------PRESS
RELEASE END------------------10/25/2010
