The Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center Publishes New Study on Voucher Acceptance in New Orleans: 2 out of 3 Landlords Deny Housing Choice Vouchers NEW ORLEANS, LA – Today, the Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center (LaFHAC) is proud to release its new report, The Mobility Myth: Housing Choice Voucher Discrimination in Orleans Parish. This investigation, … Read more

New Orleans, LA- Today, the Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center (LaFHAC) announces the appointment of their new Executive Director, Ameca Reali. LaFHAC is a New Orleans based civil rights non-profit dedicated to enforcing the Fair Housing Act of 1968 and ending housing discrimination and segregation across the state of Louisiana. LaFHAC Board President Sarah Omojola … Read more

NEW ORLEANS—On July 1st, 2023, the first provisions of the New Orleans Healthy Homes Ordinance, championed by public health and housing advocates last fall, will go into effect. The anti-retaliation section of the ordinance ensures that renters who are current on rent and otherwise in compliance with their lease, can ask for repairs and report … Read more

Jackson, MS and New Orleans, LA—Today, the Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center (LaFHAC) announced that a federal court has approved a settlement between LaFHAC testers, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the owners of three apartment complexes, and their property manager in a suburb of Jackson, MS. The suit resulted from a LaFHAC investigation of … Read more

NEW ORLEANS, LA—Today, the New Orleans City Council passed an amended version of the Healthy Homes Ordinance. Below is the Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center’s executive director, Cashauna Hill’s, statement on the passage of the ordinance: “The Healthy Homes Ordinance was intended to be the culmination of more than a decade of advocacy to finally … Read more

New Orleans, LA—Today, the Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center (LaFHAC) announced the settlement of a fair housing discrimination case against J.M. Property Holdings, LLC; Dr. Thao P. Mai; and their former property manager and agent, Tammy Sponberg. The suit, filed in federal court, alleges that the property manager tore up a couple’s rental application after … Read more

BATON ROUGE—Today, the Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center (LaFHAC) celebrated Louisiana’s 1.4 million renters winning new protections when the State Senate unanimously passed HB 160, by Rep. Mandie Landry. The bill would bring Louisiana in line with most other states that punish landlords who change the locks on tenants, toss out their things, or otherwise … Read more

NEW ORLEANS—Today, housing advocates and renting families celebrated a major milestone when the New Orleans City Council unanimously passed a Right to Counsel ordinance. The ordinance states that anyone at risk of losing their home in eviction court has a right to an attorney and creates a permanent framework for the program the Council began … Read more

New Orleans— Today, the Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center (LaFHAC), represented by LaFHAC attorneys and the Tulane Law School Civil Rights & Federal Practice Clinic, announced a U.S. District Court order enforcing a settlement agreement that prohibits New Orleans landlord Jerry Kelly Jr. from having any contact with tenants for ten years after allegations of … Read more

New Orleans, LA—Today, the Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center (LaFHAC) announced the resolution of a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) complaint against Sailboat Bay Apartments, its management company, and property manager, alleging that the property used a racially discriminatory blanket ban on renting to anyone with a criminal record. In January of … Read more

New Orleans, LA—Today, the Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center announced the settlement of a federal family status and racial discrimination lawsuit against Tall Pines, LLC and their manager and rental agent, Carey Rizzuto, in Slidell, Louisiana. The lawsuit alleges that Mr. Rizzuto engaged in a pattern of discrimination against African Americans by lying about whether … Read more

NEW ORLEANS—Today, the Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center released its new report, Delayed Until Downsized or Denied: Neighborhood Associations Lead the Charge Against Affordable Housing and Perpetuate Segregation in New Orleans. The report chronicles how New Orleans elected officials regularly grant unrepresentative, mostly-white neighborhood associations significant power over land use decisions. Since Hurricane Katrina, those … Read more

BATON ROUGE—This week, housing advocates and people with conviction records secured a long sought after new fair housing and tenant screening policy from the Louisiana Housing Corporation (LHC). The new policy will bring the agency and its grantees into compliance with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) fair housing guidance and ensure … Read more

NEW ORLEANS—Today, 79 housing developers, neighborhood associations, public health groups, education advocates, criminal justice reform organizations, good government groups, and others came together to call on the New Orleans City Council to support the extension of the Neighborhood Housing Improvement Fund (NHIF) and to place it on the November ballot alongside the fully-funded library millage. … Read more

New Orleans, LA—Today, the Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center (LaFHAC) announced the settlement of a federal racial discrimination lawsuit filed against Grundmann Enterprises, LLC and their property management staff. The lawsuit alleges that on multiple occasions the onsite manager, Thomas Pettingill, refused to follow-up with Black prospective renters, quoted them higher rents, or lied about whether … Read more

NEW ORLEANS—Today, the Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center (LaFHAC), responded to the White House and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) termination of the landmark2015 Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) Rule and the implementation of a new unvetted rule without public comment. “This is another authoritarian attempt to circumvent Congress and the typical … Read more

NEW ORLEANS—Today, 54 social service agencies and advocates from across the state called on Governor John Bel Edwards to pursue all options to increase rental assistance funding, as the recently announced Louisiana Emergency Rental Assistance program ran out of money in just three days. The $24 million allocated for the program is only a fraction of … Read more

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49632906587_45cd8a9b20_b.jpg. Copies of the handbook have been distributed to members and staff of the City Planning Commission (CPC). GNOFHAC hopes that Commission members will adopt the suggestions laid out in the handbook in the development of the new Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance in order to ensure a more just, economically integrated, and livable New Orleans. Download … Read more

New Orleans—Today, 36 public health, legal, housing, and other organizations submitted a letter to New Orleans First and Second City Court officials urging them to ensure no one is forced from their home before August 24th, 2020. Local judges and clerks of court can choose to provide renters and landlords with some certainty and relief from … Read more

NEW ORLEANS—Today,  the Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center (LaFHAC) announced a settlement agreement that prohibits New Orleans landlord Jerry Kelly Jr. from having any contact with current, past, or future tenants for the next 10 years. Mr. Kelly, who LaFHAC sued in 2018 over allegations that he grabbed the buttocks of a woman during lease signing, entered a unit without … Read more

NEW ORLEANS—Today, the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center announced that it is changing its name to the Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center, in recognition of the organization’s expansion to take on statewide work in the past decade. The name change comes as the organization will be celebrating its 25th year at its annual Fit for … Read more

New Orleans, LA and Baton Rouge, LA—Today, the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center (GNOFHAC) released a new investigation showing only one in five landlords would accept an emotional support animal in accordance with fair housing laws. Over the past two years, GNOFHAC has seen a significant increase in the number of fair housing complaints lodged … Read more

New Orleans—Today, the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center (GNOFHAC) denounced an extreme move by the Trump Administration’s Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to eviscerate a long-standing civil rights protection known as “disparate impact.” HUD’s proposed rule, published today in the federal register, would make it far more difficult to challenge discriminatory … Read more

New Orleans—Today, the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center (GNOFHAC) announced the settlement of a federal lawsuit against the owners and property managers of a Covington apartment complex, alleging they refused multiple requests to move a resident who uses a wheelchair to available first floor apartments. As part of the settlement, the defendants will receive … Read more

New Orleans—Today, the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center (GNOFHAC) filed suit in federal court against Jerry Kelly Jr. and a number of LLCs he owns. In the suit, former tenants and a previous leasing agent allege, among other things, that Mr. Kelly grabbed the buttocks of a woman during lease signing, entered a … Read more

WASHINGTON, D.C. and NEW ORLEANS, LA — Today, the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA), Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center (GNOFHAC), 18 fair housing organizations, and two homeowners in Maryland filed a federal Fair Housing Act lawsuit against Bank of America, N.A., Bank of America Corp., and Safeguard Properties Management, LLC (“Bank of America/ … Read more

WASHINGTON, D.C. and NEW ORLEANS, LA — Today, the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA), Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center (GNOFHAC), 18 fair housing organizations, and two homeowners in Maryland filed a federal Fair Housing Act lawsuit against Bank of America, N.A., Bank of America Corp., and Safeguard Properties Management, LLC (“Bank of America/ … Read more

Baton Rouge—On Saturday, Governor John Bel Edwards vetoed SB 462, a bill that would have banned cities and parishes from using zoning rules to create housing that is affordable to the average worker. Housing advocates, the City of New Orleans, the City of Baton Rouge, and the Louisiana Municipal Association, among others, all opposed the … Read more

Baton Rouge—On Saturday, Governor John Bel Edwards vetoed SB 462, a bill that would have banned cities and parishes from using zoning rules to create housing that is affordable to the average worker. Housing advocates, the City of New Orleans, the City of Baton Rouge, and the Louisiana Municipal Association, among others, all opposed the … Read more

Baton Rouge—Last Friday, Senate Bill 466 cleared its last legislative hurdle when it passed the Louisiana House. SB 466 finally provides a real chance of recovering security deposits from negligent landlords to the 1.5 million Louisianans who rent. The Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center (GNOFHAC) led the advocacy efforts for this change because … Read more

New Orleans—National insurer Covington Special Insurance Company (Covington) has agreed to settle a federal housing discrimination lawsuit filed by the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center (GNOFHAC) and a local landlord. The lawsuit, filed in the Eastern District of Louisiana in September 2017, alleged that Covington discriminated on the basis of race, sex, and … Read more

New Orleans—Last week, a U.S. District Court Judge ordered the Louisiana State Fire Marshal to pay $362,000 to plaintiffs for their court costs and attorneys fees after his office was found to be discriminating against residents of a Lake Charles Oxford House. The Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center (GNOFHAC) represented Oxford House, Inc.—a … Read more

Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center (GNOFHAC), in partnership with the National Fair Housing Alliance, and 18 other civil rights groups accuse the bank of neglecting foreclosures in communities of color  WASHINGTON, D.C. and New Orleans, LA — Today, the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA), GNOFHAC, and 18 fair housing organizations from across the … Read more

New Orleans—Today, the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center (GNOFHAC) announced a settlement with the State Fire Marshal to ensure that the agency will no longer discriminate against people with disabilities. The plaintiffs in the case were Oxford House, Inc., a nationwide network of housing for recovering alcoholics and substance abusers; the owners of … Read more

New Orleans—Today, the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center (GNOFHAC) and a New Orleans landlord filed suit against Covington Specialty Insurance Company, Mesa Underwriters Specialty Insurance Company, and Hull & Company, Inc. in federal court. The suit alleges the insurance companies discriminate against New Orleans landlords who rent to families utilizing Housing Choice Vouchers … Read more

National Fair Housing Alliance, in partnership with the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center and 18 Other Fair Housing Centers Charge Deutsche Bank and its Preservation Maintenance Companies with Housing Discrimination based on Race and National Origin Washington, D.C. and New Orleans, LA — Today, the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA), Greater New Orleans … Read more

New Orleans—New Orleans rentals are still plagued by major health and safety issues, according to Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center analysis of new U.S. Census data released this month. The recently released American Housing Survey data shows that in 2015, close to 5,000 rental homes had major problems, including: lack of electricity, broken … Read more

National Fair Housing Alliance, Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center File Federal Lawsuit Over Neglected Foreclosures WASHINGTON, D.C. and New Orleans, LA — Today, the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA), the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center (GNOFHAC) and 20 local fair housing organizations from across the United States filed a housing discrimination … Read more

Today, the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center (GNOFHAC) welcomes new guidance issued by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which makes clear that blanket bans on renting to people with criminal records is a violation of the Fair Housing Act.  Further, the new guidance puts private landlords on notice that they … Read more

Today the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center (GNOFHAC) released a study documenting extreme barriers to opportunity in the housing choice voucher program. The report is entitled Practical Steps to End Poverty for Families in the Housing Choice Voucher Program. While voucher families account for almost 25% of all rental households in New Orleans, the report documents how … Read more

Today marked the close of public comments on proposed federal guidance issued by the Obama Administration formalizing harassment investigations and corporate accountability under the federal Fair Housing Act. The proposed rule’s implications have real implications for fair housing in greater New Orleans. For example, such guidance would have applied to Michael and Denise Thornton, a … Read more

Today, a federal court entered a consent judgment resolving a lawsuit that the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center (GNOFHAC) had filed against landlords Brion, Jappy and John Ebey, Jr., and Lime Investment Company.  The suit alleged that the defendants violated the federal Fair Housing Act by engaging in a pattern of racial discrimination … Read more

NEW ORLEANS – Today, the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center (GNOFHAC) settled a federal complaint on behalf of a client against Latter & Blum Property Management, Inc. and Chateau Carre Apartments Limited Partnership arising out of a threatened eviction of a mother and her toddler son after she suffered an incidence of domestic abuse … Read more

New Orleans, LA—On Monday, the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center (GNOFHAC) released a new investigation revealing that New Orleans area housing providers treated prospective renters with criminal backgrounds differently based on the applicants’ race. GNOFHAC conducted a testing investigation of 50 area housing providers, in which mystery shoppers posing as prospective renters inquired about rental … Read more

On Thursday, September 24, 2015 from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm, the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center (GNOFHAC) and Southeast Louisiana Legal Services (SLLS) will host a free housing clinic at Baton Rouge Community College in the Dumas Conference Room of the Magnolia Building. The event is open to the public and will … Read more

NEW ORLEANS, LA – Today marks the beginning of public hearings for the New Orleans’ City Planning Commission’s final Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance (CZO) and a major step forward for persons with disabilities. The new reasonable accommodations policy ensures that all New Orleanians will be able to fully access and enjoy their housing. A “reasonable accommodations” … Read more

NEW ORLEANS – Today, Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center (GNOFHAC) Executive Director Cashauna Hill joined U.S. President Barack Obama, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, and a small group of community advocates at a roundtable discussion of ongoing challenges facing the City of New Orleans. The President, who is in town to commemorate the 10th Anniversary … Read more

NEW ORLEANS – Wednesday, July 8, the Obama Administration released new regulations that can provide important pathways to opportunity for New Orleans residents. The new fair housing regulation – aimed at promoting diverse, inclusive communities and overcoming the negative effects of segregation – was issued today by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development … Read more

NEW ORLEANS – The Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center (GNOFHAC) has settled a fair housing complaint filed with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and a federal lawsuit against Lakeview property-owner Jeff Crosby. The HUD complaint and the federal lawsuit alleged that Crosby violated the federal Fair Housing Act by discriminating … Read more

President Obama recently said in an interview that racism is no longer “just a matter of overt discrimination.” Today, the United States Supreme Court announced a landmark 5-4 ruling ensuring that we have the tools to fight back against housing discrimination in all its forms. The decision in Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs v. The Inclusive … Read more

The 2015 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature adjourned Sine Die yesterday, with some significant gains for Fair Housing. The hard work paid off with the passage of two bills establishing housing protections for victims of domestic violence and the death of a third that would have institutionalized discrimination against LGBT people and struck religious protections. After two + … Read more

Monika Gerhart-Hambrick (GNOFHAC), Beth Meeks (LCADV), Senate President Pro Tempore Sharon Weston Broome, Kim Sport (United Way), and Charmaine Caccioppi (United Way) This morning, thanks to supporters like you, the Louisiana Legislature passed a bill to protect victims of domestic violence from unnecessary evictions. I’m thrilled to report that the bill- the first of its kind … Read more

NFHA and 19 Civil Rights Groups File HUD Complaint Over Neglected Foreclosures WASHINGTON, D.C. —  Wednesday, May 13, the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) and 19 local fair housing organizations announced the filing with HUD of a housing discrimination complaint against Fannie Mae, one of the largest owners of foreclosed homes in the United States.  The … Read more

The Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center (GNOFHAC), a private nonprofit organization dedicated to ending housing discrimination in Louisiana, is pleased to announce the selection of Cashauna Hill, Esq., as its new Executive Director.  Ms. Hill was selected by GNOFHAC’s Board of Directors to succeed outgoing Executive Director James Perry, who has led the … Read more

During a hearing of the Community Development Committee this afternoon, Councilmembers listened to the concerns of a broad array of community members about the widespread problem of poor conditions in New Orleans rental homes. Individuals and organizations including tenants and landlords testified about their frustrations with the current under-resourced and complaint driven system for code … Read more

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the Supreme Court will hear Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs v. The Inclusive Communities Project, a case that could threaten the long-standing legal theory of disparate impact, which has protected all Americans from discrimination for decades. James Perry, Executive Director of the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center (GNOFHAC), … Read more

Today, the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center (GNOFHAC) announced that it has settled all claims against St. Bernard Parish stemming from a 2006 lawsuit that challenged Parish ordinances designed to restrict rentals. These ordinances included the “blood relative ordinance,” which stipulated that owners of single-family homes could only rent to their blood relatives. … Read more

On Wednesday, the City of Baton Rouge approved an agreement with Oxford House, Inc., Danjean Causeway, LLC and Glenda and Raymond Roy to settle a 2011 federal complaint of disability discrimination against the City. The agreement settles all matters on appeal and requires the City to pay $240,000 in attorneys fees to plaintiffs, who operate … Read more

New Orleans- Today, a coalition of community organizations including the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center (GNOFHAC), the Greater New Orleans Housing Alliance (GNOHA) and Southeast Louisiana Legal Services (SLLS) released a white paper that reveals the prevalence of unsafe and unhealthy conditions in the City’s rental homes, in spite of rapidly rising rents. The data is … Read more

On Thursday, the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center (GNOFHAC) released a new report revealing troubling levels of housing discrimination against African Americans in New Orleans’ high opportunity neighborhoods. The study, Where Opportunity Knocks the Doors Are Locked, found that African American mystery shoppers posing as prospective renters were either denied the opportunity to rent … Read more

Today, the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center was awarded three grants through the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to continue fighting housing discrimination throughout Louisiana. The competitive grants are funded through HUD’s Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) and total over a million dollars over the course of three years. The Center … Read more

NEW ORLEANS – Today, the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center (GNOFHAC) announces a nationwide search for a new executive director. James Perry, the current Executive Director, informed the board of directors of his intention to resign his role in early 2015. Perry, who has led the Center since 2005, will transition into an … Read more

Civil Rights Organizations Add Cleveland, Kansas City, New Orleans, and Vallejo to Federal Complaint over Neglected Foreclosures WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the National Fair Housing Alliance and three of its member organizations announced new evidence of housing discrimination by Bank of America. The civil rights groups allege that Bank of America continues to maintain and market bank-owned … Read more

Yesterday, the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center (GNOFHAC) settled a federal lawsuit against landlord Steven Stubenrauch. The suit alleged that Stubenrauch violated the federal Fair Housing Act by engaging in racial discrimination in the rental of an apartment in Slidell, Louisiana. As a result of the settlement, Stubenrauch will pay $15,000 in damages … Read more

On Friday, July 11, 2014, the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center (GNOFHAC) and one deaf plaintiff filed suit against Craig Tolbert, owner of NOLA Apartments, in federal court. The complaint alleges the company discriminated against deaf individuals seeking to rent apartments. Specifically, NOLA Apartments employees misrepresented the availability of housing and made discriminatory … Read more

Exciting news! GNOFHAC has received a grant from Target® to lead numerous Fair Housing Five workshops with any youth camp or organization across the greater New Orleans area this summer. With this generous grant, GNOFHAC will be able to distribute our original children’s book to the youth organizations and lead the workshops for free. These workshops will … Read more

The 2014 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature wrapped last week. GNOFHAC fought vigorously to pass legislation that would expand fair housing protections to the LGBT community and victims of domestic violence, enrolling the support of over 50 organizations statewide, dozens of legislators, and hundreds of individual supporters. Ultimately, too many Louisiana legislators bowed to … Read more

On Thursday, May 29, the Louisiana House of Representatives failed to pass Senate Bill 233 by a vote of 34-63. SB233 would have provided housing protections to victims of domestic violence. The bill passed unanimously through a Senate Committee, the Senate Floor, and a House Committee. The Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center (GNOFHAC) joined 42 … Read more

Q&A on SB233 Q: Does SB 233 create a liability for landlords that evict abusers? A: No. Q: What if the abuser is found to be innocent? A: Under SB 233, a perpetrator of domestic violence may lawfully be evicted from housing and barred from returning regardless of whether he has been charged with or convicted … Read more

Tuesday May 6th: GNOFHAC Happy Hour and #GiveNOLA Day On Tuesday, May 6, GNOFHAC will participate in #GiveNOLA Day, a citywide, online day of giving where every dollar donated to local nonprofits will be maximized with additional funding from the Greater New Orleans Foundation. It’s one day only, so make your donations online between midnight and 11:59 to get the … Read more

On Wednesday, representatives of the Fair Housing Action Center (FHAC) publicly indicated for the first time that the organization, in partnership with national litigation partners, is studying the St. George incorporation effort regarding concerns that it may violate federal civil rights laws. FHAC Executive Director James Perry commented “A review of information about the impacts … Read more

Join GNOFHAC Thursday, April 24th at 5:30 pm as we close out Fair Housing Month with our 2nd Annual Crawfish Boil. Family, friends, community members, and supporters are invited to join the Fair Housing Center’s staff and board at our offices, located at 404 S. Jefferson Davis Parkway, for free crawfish and drinks while engaging in an open discussion … Read more

For Immediate Release April 8, 2014 Contact:   Kate Scott        kscott@gnofairhousing.org         (504)596-2100 Largest Property Preservation Company in Nation Accused of Housing Discrimination Safeguard Properties Accused of Racial Discrimination in Maintenance of Foreclosed Homes in Dayton, Toledo, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and Memphis Today, the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) … Read more

Everyone in Louisiana deserves a fair opportunity to find a place to call home. The Louisiana State Legislative session just started last week, and we’re committed to making sure that state laws promote equal housing opportunity! GNOFHAC is working with a broad coalition of partners to expand housing choice for all Louisiana residents. One crucial part of … Read more

Assistant Director Kate Scott and Development and Communications Coordinator Marlene Theberge discuss GNOFHAC’s work in Volume 22-2 of the American Bar Association’s Journal of Affordable Housing & Community Development Law — click here for the full article. Comments are closed.

U.S. Bank Accused of Housing Discrimination Civil Rights Organizations Add Dallas, Hampton Roads, Va., New Haven and New Orleans and New Evidence in D.C. Area to Complaint against U.S. Bank WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the National Fair Housing Alliance and four of its member organizations announced new evidence of housing discrimination by U.S. Bank, N.A. … Read more

On Friday, January 17, 2014, the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center (GNOFHAC) settled a federal lawsuit against landlord Gerald Ditta. The suit alleged that Ditta violated the federal Fair Housing Act by engaging in a pattern of systemic race discrimination in the rental of his Gretna, LA property.  As a result of the … Read more

This year, GNOFHAC’s annual Fit for a King event featured a forum with New Orleans City Council at-large candidates. The forum highlighted the need for policies to increase habitable, safe rental housing, with strong statements of leadership from candidates in both Divisions One and Two. According to Councilwoman Hedge-Morrell, incumbent for District D and candidate at-large in … Read more

On March 12, GNOFHAC staff are heading to Pascagoula, Mississippi to conduct 15 Fair Housing Five workshops for over 300 5th grade students of Trent Lott Academy! The workshops will use GNOFHAC’s original children’s book, the Fair Housing Five & the Haunted House, where students will learn about housing discrimination, the Civil Rights movement, and the importance of open housing!  Click … Read more

In June 2013, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development reached an historic conciliation agreement with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. The agreement resulted from a federal housing discrimination complaint originally filed by the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA), GNOFHAC, and 12 other fair housing organizations around the country. The complaint alleged that Wells Fargo-owned … Read more

The Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center is pleased to announce they keynote speaker for the Fit for a King 2014 Summit: Ben Jealous, president and CEO of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Jealous will celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King’s life by exploring the question: “Are We Winning the Struggle … Read more

Today, the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center (GNOFHAC) joined the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) and several other fair housing centers from across the country in announcing that they have amended a previously filed federal housing discrimination complaint against U.S. Bancorp and U.S. Bank National Bank Association (U.S. Bank) to include new evidence. Specifically, … Read more

Families, Elected Officials and Advocates Call on State to Support Lower 9th Ward Rental Housing – 8 years after Katrina, more than $100 billion allocated, but not one dollar spent to rebuild affordable rental housing in Lower 9th Ward Date: September 19, 2013 Time: 1:30 PM Location: Vacant lot behind 409 Andry St., New Orleans, LA … Read more

Today, the New Orleans City Council will host a citywide meeting to hear from residents about reducing blight in New Orleans.  The special meeting of the City Council’s Housing and Human Needs Committee will take place at 4:00 p.m. in the City Council chamber located at 1300 Perdido Street. The Fair Housing Center, in concert with residents from … Read more

Ground-Breaking Fair Housing Agreement in Marketing and Maintenance of Foreclosed Properties WASHINGTON, DC – Today the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center (GNOFHAC), the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) and 13 of its member organizations announced a partnership with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. that will provide funds in 19 cities to foster homeownership, assist … Read more

On Friday, May 10, 2013, the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center (GNOFHAC) and nine (9) individual plaintiffs agreed to settle a federal lawsuit against St. Bernard Parish alleging that the permissive use permit (PUP) process adopted by the Parish in 2007 was racially discriminatory in violation of the Fair Housing Act.  As a … Read more

Last week, the Honorable Judge James Brady, U.S. District Court, Middle District of Louisiana, granted a motion for summary judgment in the case Oxford House, Inc., et al vs. City of Baton Rouge.  In his ruling, Judge Brady found that the City of Baton Rouge violated the Fair Housing Act and American with Disabilities Act … Read more

On April 1, 2013, the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center (GNOFHAC) announced a series of educational events to occur throughout the month in commemoration of National Fair Housing Month. Each event is free and open to the public, though registration may be required.  For more details about GNOFHAC’s celebration of Fair Housing Month 2013, please … Read more

Yesterday the Housing Authority of New Orleans (HANO) adopted a new criminal background policy, which goes a long way to expand housing choice and provide safe, decent and affordable housing to the community it serves. The criminal background policy is what HANO uses in order to decide how an individual’s criminal background affects their ability to access … Read more

On January 3, 2013, the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center (GNOFHAC) announced that Lani Guinier, Bennett Boskey Professor of Law at Harvard Law School, will serve as keynote speaker at the Center’s 6th Annual Fit for King Celebration on January 18, 2013. Professor Guinier will address conference attendees during a keynote luncheon at the … Read more

On December 3, 2012, at the urging of the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center (GNOFHAC), the New Orleans Mission agreed to implement a policy of non-discrimination. The agreement ends a nearly yearlong process of negotiation over the Mission’s previous, longstanding policy of refusing shelter to women who are more than six months pregnant. The … Read more

On October 17, 2012, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana granted a motion for summary judgment filed by Plaintiffs Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center (GNOFHAC) and Provident Realty Advisors, in a long running housing discrimination case against St. Bernard Parish. The decision signals that the Plaintiffs won the case on … Read more

On October 17, 2012, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana granted a motion for summary judgment filed by Plaintiffs Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center (GNOFHAC) and Provident Realty Advisors, in a long running housing discrimination case against St. Bernard Parish. The decision signals that the Plaintiffs won the case on … Read more

On September 13, Louisiana community leaders, advocates, and housing experts traveled to the Nation’s Capital to meet with White House officials about implementing the necessary solutions to the housing crisis that has enveloped Louisiana. American families continue to face a crisis in housing, with 2 million foreclosure filings this year, and millions more at risk. … Read more

The Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center (GNOFHAC) is pleased to announce that its “Equal Opportunity Game” youth workshop has been selected as a winner of the Ashoka Changemakers “Activating Empathy” competition. The purpose of the “Activating Empathy” competition is to identify innovative projects that build empathy and leadership skills in young people. GNOFHAC’s game … Read more

On Tuesday, January 31, the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center (GNOFHAC) along with several individual St. Bernard Parish property owners filed a lawsuit in federal court against St. Bernard Parish alleging that the permissive use permit process (PUP process) adopted by the Parish in 2006 is racially discriminatory in violation of the Fair … Read more

On December 2, 2011, the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center (GNOFHAC) and bona fide complainant “Jane Doe” filed suit against Ore Duckworth, a landlord in New Orleans, LA for discrimination on the basis of sex, including severe, pervasive and unwelcome sexual harassment, battery and assault. The lawsuit stems from multiple incidents that occurred between … Read more

On November 11, 2011, the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center (GNOFHAC) filed suit against Maureen Dowty, a landlord in Mandeville, Louisiana, for discrimination in the rental of housing on the basis of race and national origin. The lawsuit stems from tests conducted by GNOFHAC. During these tests, Dowty told GNOFHAC’s Latino tester that … Read more

On October 17, 2011, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana issued an order holding St. Bernard Parish and the Parish Council in contempt for violating the terms of a 2008 Consent Order, which among other things enjoins them from violating the Fair Housing Act. Plaintiffs GNOFHAC and Provident Realty Advisors, Inc. … Read more

New Orleans landlords Betty Bouchon, the Bouchon Limited Family Partnership and Sapphire Corp., have agreed to pay $70,000 in damages and civil penalties to settle a lawsuit alleging they unlawfully denied housing to African-American prospective renters at a 16-unit apartment building located in New Orleans. In December 2010, the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action … Read more