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 Baton Rouge is enjoined from enforcing the provisions of its “Special Home” ordinance against these homes, “as it pertains to the granting of reasonable accommodation to only those housing providers for the disabled that are licensed by the Louisiana and provide 24-hour staffing.”

The TRO was filed in conjunction with a federal lawsuit, which alleges that the City of Baton Rouge, through its selective zoning code enforcement and flawed reasonable accommodations procedure, has violated the Fair Housing Act and Americans with Disabilities Act by engaging in discrimination against people with disabilities. The TRO was necessary because the City of Baton Rouge refused to stay its enforcement in a state court proceeding scheduled for June 13th that endangered the housing of Oxford House residents. Oxford House homes are operated throughout the country for persons with disabilities recovering from alcoholism and substance abuse.

6-12-11 Read the full press release here.

6-10-11 Read the Order granting the TRO here.

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