FOX 28, September 17, 2019: HUD Charges Richmond Hill Landlords for Allegedly Discriminating Against Families
RICHMOND HILL, Ga. (WTGS) — The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is charging a couple that owns a Richmond Hill apartment complex with discrimination against families.
Officials say the couple violated the Fair Housing Act by refusing to rent to, imposing different rental terms and conditions on, and making discriminatory statements about families with children.
“Landlords and property owners don’t have the right to deny housing to families simply because they have children,” said Anna Maria Farias, HUD’s Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. “HUD will continue to take appropriate action when individuals in the position to control access to housing fail to meet their responsibility to comply with the Fair Housing Act.”
Officials say the case came to HUD’s attention when Savannah-Chatham County Fair Housing Council and the mother of two minor children filed complaints alleging that Michael N. and Fonda W. Parker employed a policy limiting the number of children that could reside in their apartments. HUD’s charge alleges that the Parkers’ business voicemail recording announced the policy to persons who phoned looking for housing. The policy allows only one child in a two-bedroom unit and two children in a three-bedroom unit.
The charge will be heard by a United States Administrative Law Judge unless any party elects for the case to be heard in federal court.
