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,… Lee más: 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) 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… Lee más: Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center Announces New Executive Director, Ameca Reali

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… Lee más: Renters Who Blow the Whistle on Slum Conditions Finally Receive Protections that are Standard in Most Other States

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… Lee más: Jackson, MS Apartment Owner Settles with DOJ After LaFHAC Investigation

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… Lee más: Healthy Homes Compromise Falls Short, But Includes Important Anti-Retaliation Protection

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… Lee más: Metairie Apartments Settle Case Alleging Discrimination Against Families with Children

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… Lee más: Louisiana Legislature Passes New Penalties for Landlords Who Illegally Evict

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… Lee más: New Orleans Joins Growing List of Cities with a Right to Counsel in Eviction Court

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… Lee más: Court Finds Jerry Kelly Jr. Violated Discrimination Settlement

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… Lee más: Lakeview Apartments Settle Criminal Background Discrimination Complaint; Jefferson Parish Apartments Sued for Similar Offense

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… Lee más: Slidell Landlord Settles Discrimination Case with Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center

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… Lee más: New Report Shows White-Led Neighborhood Groups Perpetuate Segregation

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… Lee más: Advocates Secure New Inclusive Criminal Background Screening Policy at the LA Housing Corporation

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.… Lee más: 79 Organizations Call for Council to Support Neighborhood Housing Improvement Fund Reauthorization

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… Lee más: Settlement of Federal Race Discrimination Lawsuit Against French Quarter Property Management Company

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… Lee más: LA Fair Housing Action Center Responds to President’s Attack on Fair Housing

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… Lee más: Social Service Agencies Across LA Sound Alarm, Call for More Rental Support from State & Congress

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… Lee más: Strategies To Affirmatively Further Fair Housing: Proposals for the City of New Orleans

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… Lee más: Broad Coalition Urges Judges to Ensure No One is Forced from Their Home Through August

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… Lee más: Proposed Rule Would Make Lawsuits Like Road Home & St. Bernard “Blood Relative” Nearly Impossible

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/… Lee más: Civil Rights Organizations File Federal Lawsuit Against Bank of America

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/… Lee más: Civil Rights Organizations File Federal Lawsuit Against Bank of America

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… Lee más: Advocates Praise Veto of Inclusionary Zoning Preemption Bill, Look Forward to Local Action

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… Lee más: Advocates Praise Veto of Inclusionary Zoning Preemption Bill, Look Forward to Local Action

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… Lee más: Legislature Passes New Law Penalizing Bad Landlords and Assisting Renters

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… Lee más: National Insurer Settles Case Alleging Discrimination Against Housing Choice Voucher Participants

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… Lee más: Court Orders State Fire Marshal to pay $362,000 in Housing Discrimination Case

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… Lee más: Fair Housing Center Settles Case Against Louisiana State Fire Marshal

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… Lee más: Fair Housing Center Files Suit Over Insurance Discrimination Against Voucher Landlords

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… Lee más: Deutsche Bank Accused of Discrimination in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and 28 Other Cities

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… Lee más: Rents Soar, but New Orleans Rentals Still Neglected

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… Lee más: Fair Housing Welcomes HUD Guidance on Criminal Backgrounds

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… Lee más: Racial Segregation, Lack of Access to Basic Services Plague Housing Choice Voucher Families

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… Lee más: Housing and Urban Development Regulation Establishes National Fair Housing Standard

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… Lee más: Fair Housing Case Settles: Landlords Use Racial Epithets, Discriminate Against Minorities

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… Lee más: Fair Housing Center Settles Domestic Violence Complaint

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… Lee más: Study Finds: Criminal Background Policies Used As Cover For Discrimination

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”… Lee más: City Takes Major Step Forward for Persons with Disabilities

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… Lee más: Cashauna Hill Joins President Obama, Discusses Geography of Opportunity in New Orleans

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… Lee más: GNOFHAC Welcomes President Obama’s Renewed Commitment To Ending Housing Segregation

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… Lee más: Fair Housing Settles Housing Discrimination Complaint

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… Lee más: A LANDMARK Fair Housing victory at the Supreme Court!

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 +… Lee más: Substantial Wins Despite a Tough Year: GNOFHAC’s Wrap of the 2015 Legislative Session

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… Lee más: SB 174: A Historic Victory in Louisiana

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… Lee más: Fair Housing Action Center Announces New Director

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… Lee más: Fair Housing Center Applauds Council Members for Listening to Community Concerns; Urges Legislation

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),… Lee más: Fair Housing Center Joins Rally at Supreme Court to Protect the Fair Housing Act

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.… Lee más: St. Bernard Parish to Pay $1.8 Million to Settle Decade Long Fair Housing Center Suit

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… Lee más: Fair Housing Center Settles Disability Discrimination Case for over $200,000 in Fees and Damages

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… Lee más: For Rent: Unsafe, Overpriced Home for the Holidays

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… Lee más: Fair Housing Center Awarded Over $1 Million in Federal Grants to Fight Housing Discrimination

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… Lee más: Fair Housing Center Launches Nationwide Search for New Executive Director

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… Lee más: Federal Race Discrimination Suit Settled in Slidell; Landlord to Pay Damages, Use Property Manager

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… Lee más: Fair Housing Center Files Suit Over Discrimination Against Deaf Homeseekers

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… Lee más: Target ® Sponsors the Fair Housing Five!

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… Lee más: 2014 Legislative Session Wrap-Up

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… Lee más: Louisiana House of Representatives Votes Against Victims of Domestic Violence

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… Lee más: FAQ on Senate Bill 233

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… Lee más: Support GNOFHAC on #GiveNOLA Day!

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… Lee más: GNOFHAC Concerned By Possible Civil Rights Violation Related to St. George Incorporation

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… Lee más: 2nd Annual GNOFHAC Crawfish Boil

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… Lee más: Urge Your Legislator to Support Expansion of the Louisiana Equal Housing Act

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.

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… Lee más: Fair Housing Center Settles Federal Race Discrimination Suit on Eve of MLK Holiday

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… Lee más: At Large Candidates Take a Stand on Rental Housing Conditions

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… Lee más: Fair Housing Five Training in Pascagoula, Mississippi

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… Lee más: Baton Rouge Community Revitalization Fund Application

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… Lee más: Keynote Speaker Announced for Fit for a King 2014: Ben Jealous

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,… Lee más: Baton Rouge Added to National Complaint Against U.S. Bank Over Discriminatory Upkeep of Properties

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… Lee más: News Conference Today (9/19) about Lower 9th Ward Rental Housing

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… Lee más: New Orleans residents will push leaders to improve rentals

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… Lee más: GNOFHAC announces $900,000 settlement agreement with St. Bernard Parish; USDOJ Settles As Well

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… Lee más: Motion for Summary Judgment Granted in Baton Rouge Discrimination Case

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… Lee más: Fair Housing Center Commemorates Fair Housing Month 2013 with Free Educational Events

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… Lee más: HANO Adopts More Inclusive Criminal Background Policy

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… Lee más: Fair Housing Center Announces Keynote Speaker Lani Guinier for 6th Annual Fit for King Celebration

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… Lee más: Homeless Shelter Opens Doors to Pregnant Women and Others

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… Lee más: Federal Judge Grants Motion for Summary Judgment in Discrimination Case Against St. Bernard Parish

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… Lee más: Federal Judge Grants Motion for Summary Judgment in Discrimination Case Against St. Bernard Parish

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.… Lee más: Fair Housing Center Shares Ideas with White House

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… Lee más: Fair Housing Center Wins Prize in International Competition for Innovative Youth Programs

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… Lee más: GNOFHAC and U.S. DOJ File Suit Against St. Bernard Parish Over Racial Discrimination in Housing

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… Lee más: Fair Housing Center Files Suit Over Sexual Harassment In Housing

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… Lee más: Fair Housing Center Files Suit Against Landlord Over Discrimination Against Latino Renters

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.… Lee más: Federal Judge Grants Fair Housing Center’s Motion To Hold St. Bernard Parish In Contempt

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… Lee más: Landlord Agrees to Pay $70,000 to Settle Race Discrimination Lawsuit

CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS SETTLE HURRICANE KATRINA HOUSING DISCRIMINATION CASE AGAINST HUD AND LOUISIANA – STATE AMENDS PROBLEMATIC HURRICANE RELIEF PROGRAM Today, African-American homeowners and two civil rights organizations announced a settlement in a post-Hurricane Katrina housing discrimination lawsuit brought against the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the State of Louisiana regarding the… Lee más: State Amends Problematic Hurricane Relief Program

After defying a federal judge’s order for more than two weeks and garnering $40,000 in fines, St. Bernard Parish today issued building permits for three of four contentious mixed-income apartment construction sites in Chalmette. 7-6-11 Read the nola.com article “St. Bernard Parish Issues Contentious Apartment Building Permits” here. 7-8-11 Read the nola.com editorial “St. Bernard Parish officials get… Lee más: St. Bernard Parish Issues Building Permits

On June 30, 2011, the Honorable Judge Helen Berrigan issued an order, partially granting the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center’s (GNOFHAC) latest emergency motion for contempt against St. Bernard Parish. The order also requires the Parish to issue permits for Provident Realty Advisors’ sites Woodlands, Parc Place, and Magnolia by 3pm on July… Lee más: Judge Partially Grants Another Motion for Contempt Against St. Bernard Parish

On June 22, 2011, the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center (GNOFHAC) filed an emergency motion for contempt against St. Bernard Parish. The motion “requests that the Court issue an immediate order enforcing its June 20, 2011 Order; ordering Defendants to immediately provide water taps and authorize the release of electricity; holding Defendants in… Lee más: Fair Housing Center Files Another Motion for Contempt Against St. Bernard Parish

On June 20, 2011, Federal Judge Helen Berrigan issued an order partially granting the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center’s (GNOFHAC) and Provident Realty Advisors latest motion to hold St. Bernard Parish in contempt of court.  The order requires St. Bernard Parish to allow Entergy to release electricity to developer Provident Realty Advisors’ sites,… Lee más: Federal Judge Grants Relief In Part, Requires Parish to Provide Essential Utilities to Developer

On June 10, 2011, the Honorable Judge James Brady, U.S. District Court, Middle District of Louisiana, issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) enjoining the City of Baton Rouge from enforcing its “two (2) unrelated persons residing in an A-I zone” rule against two Oxford House, Inc. homes. Additionally, until a hearing is held, the City of… Lee más: Judge Grants Temporary Restraining Order in Baton Rouge Disability Discrimination Case

On June 6, 2011 the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) awarded the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center (GNOFHAC) its prestigious Chairman’s Award for GNOFHAC’s contribution to the Fair Housing Movement. NFHA Board Chair Jim McCarthy presented the award to GNOFHAC staff before an assembled audience of fair housing advocates from around the country… Lee más: Fair Housing Center Receives Prestigious Award for Contribution to Fair Housing Movement

On June 6, 2011, the Honorable Judge Helen Berrigan issued another order in the legal battle between the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center (GNOFHAC)/Provident Realty Advisors and St. Bernard Parish.  In her order, Judge Berrigan denies St. Bernard’s motion for the court to issue a cease and desist order and sets a timeline… Lee más: Resistance to Mixed Income Housing in St. Bernard Parish Still Driven by Racial Discrimination

In 2008, the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center (GNOFHAC) filed a lawsuit against the State of Louisiana and HUD because the design of the Road Home program, the program designed to help people recover from Hurricane Katrina, is inherently racially discriminatory. A few weeks ago GNOFHAC was engaged in promising settlement talks with Louisiana and… Lee más: Tell HUD & The State of Louisiana to Fix the Discriminatory Road Home Program!

On April 8, 2011, St. Bernard Parish President Craig Taffaro ordered work stopped on the four mixed-income apartment complexes being built by Provident Realty Advisors in Chalmette because they don’t have proper parish permits. But U.S. District Judge Ginger Berrigan quickly ordered him to rescind the order or face contempt-of-court fines beginning today at 5… Lee más: Taffaro Issues Cease and Desist Order in Response to State Court Ruling, then Rescinds to Avoid Fine

On April 7, 2011, the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center (GNOFHAC) filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana against the City of Bossier City Housing Authority. Complainants GNOFHAC and Shameka Banks allege that the Housing Authority violated the fair housing rights of Ms. Banks by… Lee más: GNOFHAC Files Suit Against the Housing Authority of the City of Bossier Over Sexual Harassment

On March 23, 2011, the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center (GNOFHAC) launched a new campaign to counteract the racially discriminatory housing practices of St. Bernard Parish. The “Enough is Enough St. Bernard” campaign seeks to encourage both residents and non-residents of St. Bernard Parish to tell St. Bernard Parish President Craig Taffaro and… Lee más: Fair Housing Center Launches Campaign to Counteract Discriminatory Actions of St. Bernard Parish

On March 3, 2011, the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center (GNOFHAC) filed in federal court for a temporary restraining order (TRO) against St. Bernard Parish. GNOFHAC requested in its motion that St. Bernard Parish be enjoined from issuing any cease and desist orders or other orders intended to stop work on, or re-reviewing… Lee más: Fair Housing Center Files for, and Receives, Temporary Restraining Order Against St. Bernard Parish

On February 28, 2011, the Honorable Judge Helen Berrigan issued an order to extend the Consent Order in the case of Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center, et al vs. St. Bernard Parish, et al until December 31, 2011. Plaintiffs asked for an extension of the Consent Order in a February 24, 2011 status conference… Lee más: Federal Judge Extends Consent Decree in St. Bernard Case; Parish to Rescind Discriminatory Ordinance