Category: Media release

RALEIGH · Jan. 22, 2018 – Legal Aid of North Carolina will join the North Carolina Bar Foundation to announce a record-breaking gift to the NCBF Endowment’s LANC Fund on Wednesday, Jan. 24, at 2 p.m. at Legal Aid’s downtown Raleigh office at 224 S. Dawson St.

Read the press release from the North Carolina Bar Foundation to learn more:

NCBF Receives Largest Gift

The North Carolina Bar Foundation (NCBF) has received its largest gift ever as the result of planned gifts totaling nearly $1 million from the late Charles D. Dixon.

The funds have been designated to the NCBF Endowment’s Legal Aid of North Carolina (LANC) Fund, which Dixon helped launch in 2007 with a lead gift of $100,000. The Hickory attorney, who practiced from more than 60 years with Patrick, Harper & Dixon, died in 2016.

The Foundation’s largest gift since its establishment in 1960 will be formally announced on Wednesday, Jan. 24, at the downtown Raleigh office of Legal Aid of North Carolina, located at 224 S. Dawson Street.

The ceremony begins at 2 p.m. and media members are encouraged to attend.

Proceeds from the endowed gift will underwrite a dedicated position in LANC’s Morganton office, which serves Alexander, Avery, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, McDowell, Mitchell, Watauga and Yancey counties in northwest North Carolina.

“Endowing a position in Morganton in his name would be the most appropriate way to honor Mr. Dixon,” said George Hausen, executive director of LANC. “That way, hundreds of people will get legal representation who otherwise would not have.

Category: Media release

RALEIGH · February 15, 2019 – On January 28, 2019, the Village of Clemmons and Village of Clemmons Village Council agreed to settle a fair housing discrimination claim brought by two affordable developers over the village’s refusal to allow an affordable housing community to be built. As part of the settlement, the village has paid $150,000 to compensate the developers for their losses and for their attorney’s fees. Members of the village council will also attend fair housing trainings sponsored by the North Carolina Human Relations Commission.

The complainants were represented by Legal Aid of North Carolina’s Fair Housing Project and the North Carolina Justice Center. The case was filed with the North Carolina Human Relations Commission in December 2015 on behalf of Sylvan Road Partners, LLC, and Allegro Investment Properties, LLC. The complaint alleged that the Clemmons Village Council’s actions in 2015 violated the federal Fair Housing Act and the North Carolina State Fair Housing Act, because the proposed housing community contained affordable housing units and because of the race of the perceived future occupants of the proposed development.

Lauren Brasil, a staff attorney at the Fair Housing Project stated, “Unlawful housing discrimination should not be a barrier to affordable housing development in North Carolina. The Fair Housing Project is committed to ensuring equal housing opportunities for all North Carolinians and enforcing our fair housing laws.”

Jack Holtzman, senior staff attorney at the North Carolina Justice Center, noted, “It is important that local governments understand that their decisions regarding affordable housing developments are covered by the state and federal Fair Housing Acts, and that they face real consequences by violating those laws. We appreciate that the current village council has agreed to resolve this matter.”

The federal Fair Housing Act and the North Carolina State Fair Housing Act both prohibit discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, and familial status. In addition, North Carolina’s law prohibits discrimination based on the fact that a development or proposed development contains affordable housing units.

Launched in 2011 with funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Legal Aid’s Fair Housing Project is the state’s only full-service fair housing enforcement organization. The project provides legal representation to victims of discrimination, conducts undercover fair housing testing, and provides training and education programs on fair housing law to community advocates, landlords, and local government officials, among others. The project has brought cases in federal and state courts, and initiated administrative proceedings before HUD, the North Carolina Human Relations Commission and local human relations commissions across the state. Since its founding, the project has helped obtain over $6.6 million in relief for victims of discrimination.

North Carolinians seeking information about their rights under the federal Fair Housing Act or who believe they are a victim of housing discrimination can call the project’s statewide toll-free helpline at 1-855-797-FAIR (3247). All conversations are completely confidential.

# # #

Legal Aid of North Carolina is a statewide, nonprofit law firm that provides free legal services in civil matters to low-income people in order to ensure equal access to justice and to remove legal barriers to economic opportunity. Our Fair Housing Project works to eliminate housing discrimination and to ensure equal housing opportunity for all people through education, outreach, public policy initiatives, advocacy and enforcement. The Project is supported by grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Fair Housing Initiatives Program. Learn more at LegalAidNC.org and FairHousingNC.org.

Media Contacts

Sean Driscoll, Director of Public Relations, Legal Aid of North Carolina, 919-856-2132, seand@legalaidnc.org
Lauren Brasil, Staff Attorney, Fair Housing Project, Legal Aid of North Carolina, LaurenB@legalaidnc.org
Jack Holtzman, Senior Staff Attorney, North Carolina Justice Center, jack@ncjustice.org

The work that provided the basis for this publication was supported by funding under a grant with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The substance and findings of the work are dedicated to the public. The author and publisher are solely responsible for the accuracy of the statements and interpretations contained in this publication. Such interpretations do not necessarily reflect the views of the Federal Government.

Category: Media release

WILMINGTON · June 18, 2019 — Wilmington lawyer Jean Sutton Martin has directed $250,000 in cy pres funds to Legal Aid of North Carolina, one of the largest cy pres gifts Legal Aid has ever received. Legal Aid received the first check from the settlement administrator in May.

“We are incredibly grateful to Jean,” said George R. Hausen, Jr., executive director of Legal Aid of North Carolina. “This is the equivalent of a handful of attorney salaries for us. It means that we can provide justice to hundreds of North Carolinians in need. It will make a real difference.”

“Cy pres and other court awards are a great way for private attorneys to support Legal Aid,” said Hausen. “We hope this award inspires others to think of us when the time comes to direct cy pres funds.”

“I have been a longtime supporter of Legal Aid,” said Martin, an attorney with the Complex Litigation Group of Morgan & Morgan, P.A.

“I learned about Legal Aid early in my career and have supported it throughout,” she said. “It helps that I get an annual phone call from Lee Crouch reminding me of my ethical obligation to support access to justice.”

Lee Crouch is an attorney with Block, Crouch, Keeter, Behm & Sayed, LLP, in Wilmington. He is a former member of Legal Aid of North Carolina’s board of directors and is active in local efforts to encourage attorneys to support Legal Aid through pro bono work and financial contributions.

Cy pres funds are money left over from settlements in class-action cases. When class members do not claim all the settlement money in the court-established fund, the parties in the case can arrange for the remainder to be used for a purpose related to the issues involved in the case. Cy pres is an Anglo-French term roughly meaning “as near as possible.”

“Legal Aid does a lot of consumer protection work,” Martin said, “which is a nice extension of our consumer cases, so Legal Aid naturally came to mind in this case. We are grateful that the defendant and the Court in this matter agreed Legal Aid was an appropriate cy pres recipient.”

The case that generated these funds involved a phishing scam that exposed the confidential personal information, including Social Security numbers, of thousands of employees of a Greensboro aviation services company. Many of the employees became victims of identity theft as a result. The case, Linnins v. Haeco Americas, Inc. (1:16-CV-00486), settled in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina in 2018.

The NC Equal Access to Justice Commission publishes a guide for attorneys and judges who want to use cy pres funds and other court awards to support access to justice in our state. Click here to download the guide.

# # #

Legal Aid of North Carolina is a statewide, nonprofit law firm that provides free legal services in civil matters to low-income people in order to ensure equal access to justice and to remove legal barriers to economic opportunity. Learn more at legalaidnc.org and follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Check out our YouTube channel for free legal education videos.

Media Contact: Sean Driscoll, Director of Public Relations, Legal Aid NC, 919-856-2132, seand@legalaidnc.or

Category: Media release

← Back to Healthcare Access

Free, in-person enrollment help available across NC

RALEIGH, DEC. 7, 2016 – North Carolinians who want to enroll in quality, affordable health coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace must enroll by Dec. 15 if they want their new coverage to begin on New Year’s Day. Consumers who need to re-enroll should also choose plans by Dec. 15 so they don’t experience any gap in coverage as the new year begins.

To help North Carolinians beat the deadline, in-person assisters are holding enrollment events across the state. For details, visit ncgetcovered.org/events/category/partner-events/.

The NC Navigator Consortium and Enroll America encourage all uninsured North Carolinians to take advantage of the quality plans and financial assistance available through the Affordable Care Act.

Here are five things every North Carolinian needs to know about getting covered by Dec. 15:

The Affordable Care Act is still the law. Some North Carolinians have expressed concerns and asked questions about the future of the Affordable Care Act and their ability to enroll in quality, affordable health coverage through the Marketplace after the elections. As of now, nothing about the Affordable Care Act marketplace has changed – consumers can still enroll.
The first open-enrollment deadline is Dec. 15. The open-enrollment period for the Health Insurance Marketplace lasts three months, from Nov. 1, 2016, until Jan. 31, 2017. During this time, North Carolinians are able to enter the Marketplace and select a plan that fits their needs and budget. North Carolinians who currently have coverage through the Marketplace or an individual plan outside the Marketplace will also have an opportunity to shop the new options available and find the best plan for them. Enrolling by Dec. 15 will guarantee that their coverage will start on New Year’s Day, providing them with the peace of mind that comes with protecting themselves and their families.
Free, local, in-person enrollment help is available to all North Carolinians. The enrollment process can be confusing for many, especially for those who have gone a long time without coverage. Luckily, there is free, in-person enrollment help available in your area. Navigators are certified, unbiased experts in your community who can sit down with you, explain your options, and help you make the best coverage decision for you and your family. Navigators can also help you re-enroll if you are already insured through the Affordable Care Act and want to keep your coverage or choose a new plan. You can find a navigator near you and make an appointment by calling 1-855-733-3711 (toll-free) or using the Get Covered Connector tool at GetCoveredAmerica.org/Connector.
92% of North Carolinians got financial help to make their plan more affordable. For many North Carolinians, affordability is a real concern in their health care decision-making. In the past, high premium costs have forced many to go without health insurance simply because they could not afford it. The good news is that financial help is available to help you pay for your plan. In fact, as of March 2016, nearly 545,000 North Carolinians were enrolled in coverage, and 92 percent of them received financial assistance to make their monthly payments affordable. To find out if you qualify for financial assistance through the Affordable Care Act, check out the Get Covered Calculator tool at GetCoveredAmerica.org/Calculator.
Plans and prices change every year, and now you can easily compare your options. Everyone’s needs and financial situations are different, and the wide variety of plans can be intimidating. That’s why Get Covered America has introduced the Get Covered Plan Explorer, a free online plan comparison tool that can provide you with up-to-date and easy-to-understand information on your health coverage options. By answering a few simple questions about your household, the Plan Explorer will generate a list of available plans that meet your needs – including the plans that cover your doctors. The tool also takes into account the monthly premium and estimated out-of-pocket costs, so you’ll have a good idea of what you’ll pay throughout the year. Using side-by-side comparisons, you can be confident that you’re choosing the plan that best fits your needs and your annual budget. Explore your options now at GetCoveredAmerica.org/Explorer.

# # #

The NC Navigator Consortium is a group of 13 health care, social service, and legal aid organizations that helps North Carolina consumers enroll in affordable health insurance plans under the Affordable Care Act. The consortium is led by Legal Aid of North Carolina, a statewide, nonprofit law firm that provides free civil legal aid to low-income North Carolinians.

Media Contact

Sean Driscoll, Director of Public Relations, Legal Aid of N.C., 919-856-2132, seand@legalaidnc.org

Category: Media release

← Back to Disaster Relief

Legal Aid NC has a long history of addressing the legal needs of disaster victims. We know that survivors of Hurricane Florence and Tropical Storm Michael face a long road to a full recovery.

We know something else, too: Though it may not be obvious, the plights of domestic violence victims and storm survivors are surprisingly similar.

Let’s begin with the anxiety people feel when they first hear that a hurricane is heading their way. Domestic violence victims also experience a high level of anxiety about their partner’s unpredictable “stormy” behavior, which often leaves a path of destruction in the form of threats, severe harassment, and physical and sexual abuse.

Once violence seems imminent, both groups face a choice: Do I stay, or do I leave?

Domestic violence victims can face the same challenges to leaving. When their abusers often control them to such an extent that they have no access to money or a car, their options for finding a new place to live – moving into a shelter with strangers, packing themselves and their kids into a family member’s home – can seem grim at best or nonexistent at worst.

For domestic violence victims and storm survivors, the inability to escape or evacuate can be fatal. Since 2010, an average of more than 100 North Carolinians have been murdered in domestic violence incidents every year, according to statistics from the N.C. Department of Public Safety. That’s more than double the combined death toll from Florence and Michael.

There’s an economic toll, too. A 2014 study from UNC Charlotte found that domestic violence costs North Carolinians $307 million a year in lost productivity, health care costs, court and police costs, and more. That’s less than the economic damage caused by Florence and Michael – most estimates are in the billions – but the costs from these storms will zero out over time. Not so with domestic violence.

Thankfully, critical short- and long-term services are available for domestic violence victims and storm survivors, and Legal Aid of North Carolina is a front-line service provider for both groups. You can find out more about our Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Project, and our Battered Immigrant Project, which offer free legal assistance to victims, by visiting the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault section of our website, or calling our Helpline. Disaster survivors can get help by visiting the Disaster Relief section of our website, visiting a FEMA Disaster Recovery Center to meet our staff, or by calling N.C.’s toll-free Disaster Legal Services Hotline at 1-833-242-3549 or 1-866-219-5262.

For domestic violence victims, access to civil legal aid has been proven to be one of the most significant factors leading to a decline in violence. Last year, Legal Aid of North Carolina provided critical legal services to more than 6,500 victims.

We represent victims at court hearings for domestic violence protective orders, help them secure custody of their children, handle housing and immigration issues, and more. We know that domestic violence is a complex problem, and our goal is to provide whatever legal services are necessary to stop the violence.

Critical to the success of our advocacy for domestic violence victims is the support of our partners, including the North Carolina Coalition Against Sexual Assault, North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence, local domestic violence and sexual assault agencies, the Governor’s Crime Commission and the North Carolina Council for Women and Youth Involvement.

Category: Media release

DURHAM · Jan. 23, 2019 – Our Durham office celebrated its 50th anniversary at an event it hosted on December 19, 2018. Community members and Legal Aid staff gathered to celebrate. Remarks were made by Managing Attorney Gina Reyman, County Commission Chair Wendy Jacobs, N.C. Rep. Marcia Morey, District Court Judge Amanda Maris, District Attorney Satana Deberry, Mayor Pro Tempore Jillian Johnson, and Mayor Steve Schewel.

Highlights of the event included Mayor Schewel’s closing remarks, “I am real excited that we as a city are funding attorneys for the DEAR program…. and the Eviction Diversion Program… I’m just glad that we’ve taken that step, and we wouldn’t have been able to take that step if we hadn’t had confidence in Legal Aid and our other partners… We are a very prosperous city… our whole task is to make sure that everybody is able to share in our new found prosperity.”

Several of the speakers underscored the importance of Legal Aid of North Carolina’s work and addressed the need of further civil legal aid. District Attorney Deberry said, “I’m excited to be here…. As a former housing and economic development advocate, I can tell you that civil justice debt is as big an issue as criminal justice debt for the populations that we serve.”

Long-term supporters of the Durham office were present, including Judge Maris. She reflected on her admiration for Gina Reyman’s commitment to justice and on the growth of Durham’s expunction programs. She stated, “Fifty years, that’s amazing, and it’s a tribute to the powerful work that you do here… I can tell you that I believe in what [Legal Aid] does. It is close to my heart. Thank you so much for everything you do. Congratulations on 50 years!”

Category: Media release

← Back to Healthcare Access

RALEIGH – December 15, the first major deadline of this Affordable Care Act open enrollment period, is rapidly approaching, and uninsured North Carolinians who want to enroll in quality, affordable health coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace must enroll by that date if they want their new coverage to begin on New Year’s Day. For consumers who need to renew their coverage, December 15 is the deadline to choose a plan so they don’t experience any gap in coverage as the new year begins.

The North Carolina Navigator Consortium and Enroll America encourage all uninsured North Carolinians to take advantage of the quality plans and financial assistance available through the Affordable Care Act – or potentially face a fine for going without health insurance in 2016.

Here are five things every North Carolinian needs to know about getting covered by December 15:

1. The first open enrollment deadline is December 15.

The open enrollment period for the Health Insurance Marketplace lasts three months, from November 1 until January 31, 2016. During this time, North Carolinians are able to enter the Marketplace and select a plan that fits their needs and budget. North Carolinians who currently have coverage through the Marketplace or an individual plan outside the Marketplace will also have an opportunity to shop the new options available and find the best plan for them. Enrolling by December 15 will guarantee that their coverage will start on New Year’s Day, providing them with the peace of mind that comes with protecting themselves and their families.

2. 92% of North Carolinians got financial help to make their plan more affordable!

For many North Carolinians, affordability is a real concern in their health care decision-making. In the past, high premium costs have forced many to go without health insurance simply because they couldn’t afford it.

The good news is that financial help is available to help you pay for your plan. In fact, as of June 2015, nearly 460,000 were enrolled in coverage through the Marketplace, and 92% of them received financial assistance to make their monthly payments affordable. To find out how much financial assistance you qualify for through the Affordable Care Act, you can check out the Get Covered Calculator tool at GetCoveredAmerica.org/Calculator.

3. In-person help is available to help you understand your options and enroll in a plan.

The enrollment process can be confusing for many, especially if you’ve gone a long time without coverage. Luckily, there is free, in-person enrollment help available in your area. These are unbiased experts in your community who are certified to sit down with you, explain your options, and help you make the best coverage decision for you and your family. They can also help you renew your plan if you’re already insured through the Affordable Care Act and want to keep your coverage or choose a new plan. You can find someone near you and make an appointment by calling 1-855-733-3711 or using the Get Covered Connector tool at GetCoveredAmerica.org/Connector.

4. Plans and prices change every year, and now you can compare your options easily.

Everybody’s needs and financial situations are different, and the wide variety of plans can be intimidating. That’s why Get Covered America has introduced the Get Covered Plan Explorer, a free web-based plan comparison tool that can provide you with up-to-date and easy to understand information on your health coverage options.

By answering a few simple questions about your household, the Plan Explorer will generate a list of available plans that meet your needs – including the plans that cover your doctors. The tool also takes into account the monthly premium and estimated out-of-pocket costs, so you’ll have a good idea of what you’ll pay throughout the year. Using side-by-side comparisons, you can be confident that you’re choosing the plan that best fits your needs and your annual budget. Explore your options now at GetCoveredAmerica.org/Explorer.

5. You may face a fine come tax time if you remain uninsured.

This enrollment period is an opportunity to not only gain access to quality affordable healthcare for you and your family, but to also avoid paying a fine when you file your taxes. If you do not enroll in a plan by the final deadline of January 31, 2016, you could face a fine of $695 or 2.5% of your yearly income, whichever is greater. The fine will increase each year, making it more and more costly to delay complying with the law – on top of having to pay out-of-pocket for costly health services during the year. Enrolling in coverage could not only save your family $695 or more, but also provides covers free preventative care, prescription drug coverage, and other essentials for a healthy life.

You can learn more about the Affordable Care Act, your coverage options, and how you can help your friends and family get covered at GetCoveredAmerica.org.

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The NC Navigator Consortium is a group of 14 health care, social service, and legal aid organizations that helps North Carolina consumers enroll in affordable health insurance plans under the Affordable Care Act. The consortium is led by Legal Aid of North Carolina, a statewide, nonprofit law firm that provides free civil legal aid to low-income North Carolinians. Members of the consortium are Access East, Capital Care Collaborative, Cape Fear HealthNet, Care Ring, Council on Aging of Buncombe County, Cumberland HealthNet, HealthCare Access, HealthNet Gaston, Legal Services of Southern Piedmont, MDC, Partnership for Community Care, Pisgah Legal Services and United Way of Greater Greensboro.

Enroll America is the nation’s leading health care enrollment coalition. An independent nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, Enroll America works with more than 6,700 partners in all 50 states to create cutting-edge tools, analyze data, inform policy, and share best practices in service of its mission: maximizing the number of Americans who enroll in and retain health coverage under the Affordable Care Act.

Media Contact: Sean Driscoll, Director of Public Relations, 919-856-2132

Category: Media release

← Back to Fair Housing

RALEIGH, April 28, 2017 – When fair housing advocates gather for Raleigh’s 14th Annual Fair Housing Conference on April 28, they will have much to celebrate: national Fair Housing Month, the federal Fair Housing Act’s 49th anniversary, and our nation’s continuing commitment to the principle of equal housing for all.

Advocates from Legal Aid of North Carolina’s Fair Housing Project will join the celebration, and will mark some milestones of their own: the Project’s sixth anniversary and the $5.25 million in relief for victims of housing discrimination it has won over those six years.

The Project has brought cases in federal and state courts, and initiated administrative proceedings before HUD, the North Carolina Human Relations Commission and local human relations commissions across the state.

The Project has a small number of full-time staff but makes a big impact. Most of the $5.25 million in relief for victims came from recent settlements of three high-profile cases involving allegations of systemic sexual harassment, disability rights or racial discrimination. The three cases are:

The Fair Housing Project represented 16 women who had alleged that they experienced sexual harassment by employees of Four County Community Services, a non-profit organization running a subsidized housing assistance program in Scotland County. The settlement of the case in 2015 resulted in $1,070,000 in relief for the plaintiffs, as well as an additional $1,000,000 for other aggrieved persons represented by the U.S. Department of Justice in a related case. Learn more.
As a result of fair housing testing, the Project discovered what it believed to be violations of the Fair Housing Act’s accessibility requirements for new multifamily housing and filed an administrative complaint with HUD regarding SkyHouse apartment buildings in Raleigh, Charlotte and other cities. The parties settled in September 2016, with the respondents agreeing to provide ramps and other accessibility modifications upon request to tenants with disabilities, as well as to provide $1,800,000 to be used to make accessibility modifications for low-income tenants with disabilities in North Carolina, Florida, Georgia and Texas. Learn more.
As a result of the Project’s lending testing program, it filed an administrative complaint with HUD regarding potential differences in treatment by Fidelity Bank based on race. As a result of the conciliation agreement reached in the case, Fidelity agreed to invest $1,000,000 over two years in low-income communities in which it operated. Learn more.

In addition to the millions of dollars secured for those impacted by fair housing violations, Legal Aid’s Fair Housing Project has helped dozens of people with disabilities obtain reasonable accommodations from their landlords, allowing them to have full access and enjoyment of their homes. The Project has also obtained agreements from three property management companies and landlords affecting hundreds of rental units in which formal reasonable accommodation policies were adopted to ensure that the properties comply with federal and state fair housing law.

North Carolinians seeking information about their rights under the federal Fair Housing Act or who believe they are a victim of housing discrimination can call the Project’s statewide toll-free helpline at 1-855-797-FAIR (3247). All conversations are completely confidential.

# # #

Legal Aid of North Carolina is a statewide, nonprofit law firm that provides free legal services in civil matters to low-income people in order to ensure equal access to justice and to remove legal barriers to economic opportunity. Our Fair Housing Project works to eliminate housing discrimination and to ensure equal housing opportunity for all people through education, outreach, public policy initiatives, advocacy and enforcement. The Project is supported by grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Fair Housing Initiatives Program. Learn more at LegalAidNC.org and FairHousingNC.org.

Media Contacts

Sean Driscoll, Director of Public Relations, Legal Aid of North Carolina, 919-856-2132, seand@legalaidnc.org
Jeffrey Dillman, Co-Project Director, Fair Housing Project, Legal Aid of North Carolina, 919-861-1884, JeffD@legalaidnc.org

Category: Media release

← Back to Fair Housing

RALEIGH, April 22, 2016 – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today announced a $1 million settlement agreement that resolves allegations of racially discriminatory lending practices made by our Fair Housing Project against Fidelity Bank.

Under the terms of the settlement, Fidelity will spend $500,000 a year for two years to make investments and community development loans in census tracts where the majority of residents are racial minorities. At least 40 percent of those investments and loans will specifically promote affordable housing.

Our Fair Housing Project filed a complaint with HUD in February 2015 alleging that employees of a Fidelity Bank branch in Raleigh had engaged in discriminatory lending practices based on race, in violation of the federal Fair Housing Act.

To learn more, read HUD’s press release and download the full settlement agreement.

Our Fair Housing Project works to eliminate housing discrimination and to ensure equal housing opportunity for all people in North Carolina through education, outreach, public policy initiatives, advocacy and enforcement. Learn more at fairhousingnc.org.

Category: Media release

← Back to Fair Housing

RALEIGH, December 5, 2017 – Legal Aid of North Carolina announced today that it has settled a federal discrimination complaint filed against Wake County Human Services on behalf of a disabled woman who received rental assistance through the county’s Rental Assistance Housing Program. Under the terms of the settlement, the county will provide additional protections to program participants who are disabled and those who have limited English proficiency.

Wake County’s Rental Assistance Housing Program targets individuals with serious psychiatric disabilities who are homeless and in need of ongoing mental health and supportive services to be able to live independently in the community.

The complaint, filed with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in 2015, alleged that the county had violated the federal Fair Housing Act by terminating the client’s rental assistance for reasons related to her disability, failing to provide her with an interpreter despite knowing that she had limited proficiency in English, and depriving her of a fair procedure when it terminated her rental assistance.

Under the settlement, the county agreed to:

Implement a new appeals procedure that provides additional protections for disabled program participants who are at risk of having their voucher terminated;
Introduce a written policy that informs participants of their right to request certain accommodations from their landlord, such as allowing an individual who has difficulty climbing stairs to move to a ground floor apartment;
Provide an interpreter to program participants with limited English proficiency who are appealing the termination of their rental assistance; and
Pay an undisclosed sum of money to compensate the client.

“The Fair Housing Project of Legal Aid is committed to ensuring that individuals with severe psychiatric disabilities, just like all residents of North Carolina, are able to benefit from the protections of the Fair Housing Act,” said Lauren Brasil, one of the attorneys at the Fair Housing Project who represented the client.

“Wake County is to be commended for implementing a new appeals process for individuals with severe mental disabilities who want to challenge the termination of their rental assistance. By giving these individuals the ability to contact Legal Aid and be represented by a lawyer at no cost when their rental assistance is at risk of being terminated, the county affords this vulnerable population a fighting chance to preserve their housing,” said Suzanne Chester, co-counsel on the case. “In addition, a written policy for making requests for accommodations helps people with disabilities live independently and avoid institutionalization.”

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Legal Aid’s Fair Housing Project works to eliminate housing discrimination and to ensure equal housing opportunity for all people through education, outreach, public policy initiatives, advocacy and enforcement. North Carolinians who believe that they have been victims of housing discrimination can contact the Fair Housing Project at 1-855-797-3247 or info@fairhousingnc.org. The project’s work is made possible by a grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Fair Housing Initiatives Program. Learn more about the project and fair housing laws at FairHousingNC.org.

Media Contacts
Sean Driscoll, Director of Public Relations, Legal Aid of N.C., 919-856-2132, SeanD@legalaidnc.org