Category Archives: News

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

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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.

HECP is excited to introduce our new Outreach Coordinator, Patricia Bell. Prior to joining HECP Patricia worked as a Program Manager for a fair housing organization in Nashville, Tennessee. During her time in Nashville, she also worked as part of a team to develop, “Understanding Nashville’s Housing Crisis Part 3: Residential Segregation”, an advocacy tool to support Nashville residents. She has spent time in Richmond, Virginia and Washington, DC working collaboratively with community partners, connecting people to supportive services, and advocating in partnership with clients as a Community Specialist. She received her B.A. in Psychology and Social Relations from Cheyney University

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HECP is excited to announce the launch of our new Know Your Rights as a Renter in Pennsylvania website. This interactive online version of our comprehensive manual features searchable information on renters’ rights, resources for tenant self-advocacy, and downloadable customizable sample letters.

Through our enforcement program as of spring 2021, HECP is proud to have reached the milestone of ending discriminatory practices at over 50,000 units of housing throughout the Greater Philadelphia and Lehigh Valley regions. Thanks to the tireless work of our staff, partners, and supporters these units have been made available, without discriminatory restrictions, to members of the protected classes and their families.

HECP and a Delaware County resident have entered into an agreement resolving allegations that Presby’s Inspired Life, Alician Senior Housing, and sixteen other apartment complexes in Bucks, Delaware, and Philadelphia Counties violated the Fair Housing Act by discriminating against residents with disabilities. After assisting an Upper Darby resident whose tenancy was threatened to be terminated due to minor lease violations that were a direct result of his disability-related symptoms, HECP conducted a systemic investigation of Presby’s Inspired Life documenting the unwillingness of seventeen affordable senior living complexes to permit reasonable accommodations for residents with disabilities.

On January 26, President Biden issued a memo to the Secretary of HUD instructing the agency to take actions to remedy the nation’s long history of discriminatory housing practices and policies. In particular, the memo requires that HUD examine the impact of recent regulatory actions regarding affirmatively furthering fair housing and disparate impact and take any necessary steps to make sure that HUD administer its programs in a manner that affirmatively furthers fair housing and ensures fair housing compliance, including preventing practices with an unjustified discriminatory effect.

HECP has entered into an agreement resolving a federal housing discrimination complaint against the owner and manager of Presidential City Apartments in Philadelphia for violating the disability portion of the federal Fair Housing Act.

In September HUD published a new rule which makes it more difficult prove discrimination under the Fair Housing Act based on disparate impact, or policies by housing providers, municipalities, insurers, or financial institutions that have a discriminatory effect on members of protected classes.