HECP is excited to introduce our new Intake Specialist, Janis Stacy. Janis has been a community activist for racial and LGBTQI2S+ (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Queer Intersex 2-Spirit) equity for over 40 years. She has run diversity trainings on trans inclusion and cultural competency about Indigenous American Two-Spirit and trans people. She has been a community activist for equity for over 40 years including in housing and homelessness.
HECP and a Bucks County couple have entered into an agreement resolving allegations that CM Bucks Landing 120, LLC, Residential Management (NY), Inc., and Aspen Grove Apartment Homes violated the Fair Housing Act by adopting and applying policies that discriminated against applicants based on national origin, race, and familial status.
On July 27, 2022, the Department of Justice, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and the Attorneys General of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware announced a resolution after a years-long investigation into redlining practices by Trident Bank. Under the consent order Trident has agreed to invest over $20 million to increase credit opportunities in neighborhoods of color in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. HECP collaborated with the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office to conduct testing to support their investigations in Philadelphia.
HECP now has Know Your Rights as a Renter in Pennsylvania recorded webinars for consumers available in English, Spanish, and Mandarin Chinese on our new YouTube channel. These 20 minute trainings teach renters the basics of state and federal fair housing laws and Pennsylvania landlord tenant law.
The Philadelphia Police and Fire Federal Credit Union (PFFCU) has agreed to resolve a HUD complaint alleging that they violated the Fair Housing Act by discriminating against loan applicants who were on maternity leave. The complainants, a married couple, contacted HECP in February of 2021 when they were denied a home renovation loan because the wife was on maternity leave following the birth of their second child. The PFFCU refused to process the loan application despite the complainant receiving full pay during her leave and having a scheduled date to return to work. HECP investigated the complaint and assisted the
Join the Housing Equality Center on Friday, April 22 from 10:00am-noon in a special fair housing month event centering on a solutions focused conversation addressing the barriers and challenges to attaining equitable and fair housing in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Hear from panelists with a variety of perspectives on diversity, equity, and equal opportunity in housing.
Bucks County property owner and manager, Mohamed Bacchus and Alan Zander, have agreed to resolve a federal lawsuit alleging that they violated the Fair Housing Act by discriminating against a tenant based on familial status and disability. The tenant contacted HECP in April of 2019 when the respondents refused to let his girlfriend move in with him because she was pregnant with his son and because he was in recovery from an addiction to alcohol. HECP assisted the complainant in obtaining legal counsel to represent him in pursuing a HUD complaint. After HUD investigated the complaint, it issued a charge
Since 2019, there has been a tenfold increase in complaints of discriminatory home appraisals reported to HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. Recent news stories, research, and investigations have all documented instances of homes in majority Black neighborhoods or owned by Black families being undervalued compared to similar white-owned homes. Like fair housing organizations throughout the country, HECP has received recent allegations of appraisal bias in our region. If you or someone you know believes they may have experienced appraisal discrimination in the purchase or refinance of a home, contact HECP at 267-419-8918 or by using our “Report
HECP is excited to share our new comprehensive fair housing manual for landlords and property managers. This resource includes detailed information on compliance with the Fair Housing Act and Pennsylvania Human Relations Act as well as Pennsylvania Landlord Tenant Law as it pertains to the rental of private residential property.
HECP now has two new educational publications for consumers available. The first, “Think You’ve Experienced Housing Discrimination?” is a fact sheet for consumers who have experienced housing discrimination, explaining the next steps that should be taken to protect their fair housing rights. This publication provides information about the formal complaint process and outlines the proper retention of evidence in order to successfully document an allegation of discrimination.