CORRESPONDENCE - 50A - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

advice from fair housing experts. The City of San Jacinto recently settled a Federal housing discrimination lawsuit with the U.S. Department of Justice. Among the issues was a city ordinance similarly seeking to restrict the terms under which disabled individuals could live together in a dwelling. In considering this action the city should be mindful of its obligations to affirmatively promote housing opportunities for persons with disabilities, and the covenants in place as conditions of receiving federal housing funds. We understand that this ordinance was motivated by concerns about an individual owner of a multifamily building, and about how they might be utilizing the property. In our experience, such concerns often involve housing for individuals afforded state and federal fair housing protection. Our experience elsewhere in California suggests that local governments are often induced by local residents to violate their obligations to persons with disabilities. That was certainly the case in Newport Beach, where the city enacted laws found by the Ninth Circuit to have been motivated by discriminatory intent. That finding was reached despite the fact that the text of the statute did not contain overtly discriminatory language. We will be happy to discuss other reservations we have, including concerns that provisions such as the ones apparently being considered might be inappropriately applied to households operating as family -like units. Attempts to target such households would violate state and federal fair housing protections, and also privacy protections under California law. For a number of reasons we believe this approach is unwise, harmful to disadvantaged and disabled individuals, and creates real harm. We would be happy to discuss these concerns with you in more detail, and appreciate your willingness to review this submission. Sincerely, David. Sheridan Executive Director (310) 701-8408 dave@soberhousina.net Page 3 of 3