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<span class="">HOME settles housing discrimination complaint with Chesterfield firm for $33,000</span>
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<p>Crislip</p>
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<p class="">
Posted: <span class="" title="2016-08-03T16:15:00-04:00">Wednesday, August 3, 2016 4:15 pm</span>
</p>
<p class="">
<span class=""><span class="">By CAROL HAZARD
Richmond Times-Dispatch</span></span>
</p>
<div class="">
<span class="">
<span class=""><p>Housing
Opportunities Made Equal of Virginia Inc. said Wednesday it had settled a
discrimination complaint for $33,000 with two Richmond-area companies
for alleged housing discrimination against a person who did not speak
English.</p></span>
</span>
<span class=""><p>Richmond-based HOME
filed the complaint against Executives Inc. Realty Group, a real estate
brokerage in Chesterfield County, and CBP Properties LLC, a local
property owner.</p></span>
<div class="" style="">
<p>The complaint alleged that a
policy maintained by Executives Inc. requiring that at least one lease
signer be able to sufficiently communicate in English constituted
discrimination based on national origin.</p>
</div>
<div class="" style="">
<p>HOME alleged that the policy
unfairly excluded otherwise qualified families from obtaining the
housing of their choice because of their national origin.</p>
</div>
<div class="" style="">
<p>In December 2013, a
Spanish-speaking woman accompanied by her bilingual daughter attempted
to view a rental home in Richmond listed by Executives Inc. The woman
was allegedly denied access to see the home when a receptionist learned
that no adult on the lease would be able to speak sufficient English.</p>
</div>
<div class="" style="">
<p>In 2014, HOME investigated the
claim, confirmed the policy and then filed a formal complaint with U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development. HUD referred the case for
investigation to the Virginia Fair Housing Office.</p>
</div>
<div class="" style="">
<p>Brown Pearson, owner of
Executives Inc., said in a statement that the company prides itself on
providing high-quality housing and excellent customer service. “We want
to assure the community that we are welcoming to all applicants
regardless of their national origin, and our policies and training
reflect that commitment,” he said.</p>
</div>
<div class="" style="">
<p>Pearson declined to comment further.</p>
</div>
<div class="" style="">
<p>To settle HOME’s claims,
Executives Inc. changed its language policy, which now instructs staff
to provide housing opportunities to prospective tenants regardless of
their English proficiency.</p>
</div>
<div class="" style="">
<p>Executives’ Inc. staff will
continue to attend regular fair-housing training. It also will reimburse
HOME for costs and expenses incurred during the investigation.</p>
</div>
<div class="" style="">
<p>The original complainant settled
her own fair-housing complaint with Executives Inc. to the satisfaction
of both parties, according to a statement from HOME.</p>
</div>
<div class="" style="">
<p>“Language is a barrier for many
in our commonwealth, but that should not deny a person’s access to
housing,” said Heather Crislip, president and CEO of HOME. “We are
grateful to Executives for recognizing this unnecessary barrier and
acting swiftly to update their policy to reflect inclusion and
opportunity.”</p>
</div>
<div class="" style="">
<p>According to the National Fair
Housing Alliance’s Where You Live Matters 2015 Fair Housing Trends
Report, 10.6 percent of complaints nationwide involved the protected
class of national origin, with 2,925 reported instances in 2014.</p>
</div>
<div class="" style="">
<p>The federal Fair Housing Act
prohibits discrimination based on seven protected classes: race, color,
religion, national origin, sex, disability, and familial status
(families with children under age 18).</p>
</div>
<div class="" style="">
<p>In addition, Virginia fair-housing laws offer an additional protection for individuals age 55 and older.</p>
</div>
<div class="" style="">
<p>Founded in 1971, HOME’s mission is to ensure equal access to housing for all people.</p>
</div>
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