Tag Archive for "Washington DC"

Posts Tagged ‘Washington DC’

DHCD Releases the District of Columbia Analysis of Impediments

Posted on January 14th, 2013 by ERC

Steve Paikin, Director of Fair Housing & Equal Opportunity for HUD’s Washington, D.C. field office, speaks at the DHCD press conference.

In December, the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) announced the release of the “District of Columbia Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice 2006-2011.”

Published every five years by districts and municipalities that receive federal funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for fair housing activities and programs, this report analyzes “the essential goals of the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) and the Fair Housing Act to achieve racial, ethnic, and economic diversity in housing…”

The DHCD report examines the state of housing and housing discrimination issues in the District of Columbia over a five-year period. Following exhaustive investigations and research, DHCD recognized 13 impediments to fair housing in Washington, D.C., spanning both the private and public sector. The report also details recommendations to remedy these impediments. (more…)

Categorized as Advocacy, Civil Rights, Fair Housing, Government Services
Tags: Department of Housing and Urban Development, DHCD, fair housing, press conference, Washington DC

Misguided: Housing Discrimination Against Individuals Using Guide Dogs

Posted on November 12th, 2012 by ERC

This week, the Equal Rights Center (ERC) released a report detailing the treatment of blind or visually impaired renters seeking a reasonable accommodation for a service animal in the greater Washington, D.C. metropolitan area rental housing market. “Misguided: Housing Discrimination Against Individuals Using Guide Dogs” found that housing providers failed to individuals who used service animals equal housing opportunity thirty-one percent of the time, despite federal, state and local protections requiring such accommodations.

Guide dogs and other assistive animals serve an important function and are not pets. Nonetheless, many rental properties employ a “no pets” policy or have strict guidelines, including the type of animal allowed and size of the animal. Recognizing the adverse effect these policies may have, the Fair Housing Act (FHA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as well as state and local laws, provide protections to people with disabilities in housing-related transactions, including the right to obtain a reasonable accommodation for the use of a service animal.

Despite these protections, the ERC and its affiliates continue to receive reports of discrimination. To test these claims, the ERC conducted 100 tests of rental properties throughout the greater Washington, D.C. metropolitan area [for further information on testing and methodology, read the full report here]. In 31 percent of the tests, a blind individual who called a rental property to inquire about housing was unable to ensure that a guide dog would be permitted without any additional fee or cost. The treatment ranged from increased fees, to a lack of knowledge on property policies involving service animals, to outright refusals to accommodate a guide dog.

Service and other assistive provide essential services to many in the disability community. From a blind individual who uses a guide dog to walk down the street, to a person diagnosed with epilepsy who works with a dog trained to detect seizures, assistive animals are invaluable resources and companions. (more…)

Categorized as Advocacy, Disability Rights, Fair Housing
Tags: blind, disability rights, guide dog, Misguided, reports, service animals, testing, Washington DC

Tragedy brings forth an opportunity to strengthen our community

Posted on August 13th, 2012 by ERC

Attendees of the August 8 vigil sign a poster remembering the Sikh temple shooting victims.

By Melat Menwyelet, Immigrant Rights Program Coordinator

Having remained nearly invisible or confused with its more well-known Asian counterpart Islam, the world’s 5^th largest religion finally came into focus in the U.S. on August 5, 2012, through the tragic events in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. Wade Michael Page, a 40-year-old Army veteran who is described by the media as having ties with hate groups, entered a Gurdgwara, a Sikh temple, and opened fire, killing six people and himself. This tragic event took place at the most ironic of times as it was the part of the Sunday service where community members from all backgrounds – Sikhs and non-Sikhs – come together and break bread as a sign of equality.

The Sikh religion is monotheistic (believing in one God) and emphasizes ethics, morality and values. They are warriors for social justice, advocating for tolerance for all people, and have been described as one of the most peaceful people in the world. Although a minority in the U.S., Sikhs make up an estimated 250,000 to 500,000 of the country’s population. Sikh men are easily identified by their beautifully colored turbans, which have also led them to be easily targeted by hate groups. This has especially been the case in the U.S. since 9-11, as they are often mistaken for Muslims. Although they understand this misplaced hate, true to their beliefs, many Sikh Americans stand up against the injustice that the Muslim American and Arab American communities have faced as a result of constant harassment over the last several years. (more…)

Categorized as Advocacy
Tags: Sikh temple, vigil, Washington DC

Opening doors from discrimination

Posted on June 22nd, 2012 by ERC

The ability to obtain adequate and safe housing of one’s choice affects all aspects of an individual’s daily life. Yet housing discrimination continues to be a pervasive problem nationwide, particularly for people who rely on Housing Choice Voucher holders.

This month, the ERC reached an agreement with Level One, Inc., a national apartment leasing call center, resolving concerns that Housing Choice Voucher holders were provided with inaccurate information about the availability of apartments owned and managed by Level One’s clients. As a result of the agreement, Level One will ensure that all of its agents answering rental calls for properties located in the District of Columbia, and in Howard and Montgomery Counties in Maryland, advise potential renters that vouchers are accepted for the payment of rent. Level One has also agreed to strengthen its existing fair housing policies and to provide additional fair housing training to employees. (more…)

Categorized as Advocacy, Fair Housing
Tags: ERC, fair housing, housing choice vouchers, Washington DC

Passing the Buck on Fair Employment

Posted on April 13th, 2012 by ERC

Earlier this month, 72 members of Congress urged President Obama to sign an executive order prohibiting federal contractors from discriminating in the workplace based on an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity. While not addressing the request directly, President Obama released a statement this week suggesting that he wants Congress to pass legislation first.

The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) was considered by Congress last year, but did not pass. The Congressmembers’ letter to the President noted that an executive order would help lay the groundwork for ENDA. Particularly in this election year, no one expect ENDA to have a real chance of passing before 2013.

The result is a Catch-22: Congress needs the momentum and leadership of the Administration to get ENDA – a bill the President supports – passed. The President seems to not want to act until Congress passes the law. As both branches wait for the other to take action, thousands of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals are denied basic fair employment protections. (more…)

Categorized as LBGT Rights
Tags: Congress, ENDA, LGBT, President Obama, Washington DC

ERC Continues to Fight Discrimination Against Housing Choice Voucher Holders in the District of Columbia

Posted on January 11th, 2012 by ERC

For nearly eight years, the ERC has been at the forefront of identifying and addressing discrimination against Housing Choice Voucher holders in the District of Columbia. Since beginning this initiative, the ERC has published two reports and reached more than two dozen agreements with landlords and property managers, ultimately opening more than 15,000 apartment units to voucher holders. Last year, the ERC released a report revealing that, while the rate of discrimination based on this source of income had decreased over time, nearly half of those attempting to use Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV) in D.C. still encountered discrimination.

Today, in a continued effort in this campaign, ERC filed a lawsuit in the D.C. Superior Court against Inder Raj Pahwa and Rita Pahwa, alleging that they violated the D.C. Human Rights Act by engaging in discrimination on the basis of source of income. In tests conducted by the ERC, Inder Raj Pahwa—an engineer with the D.C. Water & Sewer Authority and a Commissioner on the D.C. Taxicab Commission who owns and manages rental units at 717-719 Irving St. NE, Washington, D.C. and 722-724 Hamlin St. NE, Washington, D.C.—told testers that he would not accept vouchers at any of his properties, and that he “did not believe in vouchers.” Although typically discrimination occurs in more subtle ways, an outright refusal to rent to voucher holders is a clear violation of the law. (more…)

Categorized as Fair Housing
Tags: DC Human Rights Act, fair housing, lawsuit, source of income, Washington DC

A Letter to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority (WMATA) from the ERC’s Disability Rights Program Manager

Posted on January 9th, 2012 by ERC

By Kat Taylor, Disability Rights Program Manager

Dear WMATA,

I’ve been following closely the closure of several of metro station entrances/exits that are being renovated as part of WMATA’s Metro Forward Project. You report that this project will improve service for Metro Customers by working on escalator maintenance, station enhancement, bus rehabilitation, rail car maintenance and rail improvements. Although I have only lived in the D.C. area for a few years, even before starting this ambitious project, I have seen WMATA struggle to keep the metro rail system functioning properly and I fully understand that you are trying to improve your public image. Us daily commuters are far too familiar with delays, nonfunctioning escalators, broken elevators, and most recently, cracked tracks. While I support any and all improvements you are trying to make, in the nation’s capital, we expect better.

My concern is the immediate consequences of some of the closures you are proposing. In a growing and diverse city, we need a system that is inclusive and can truly be used by everyone. In the capital of one of the wealthiest, most enlightened countries in the world, it is unacceptable for a public transportation system to habitually discriminate against one of the largest minority groups in the country – people with disabilities. (more…)

Categorized as Disability Rights
Tags: disability rights, Washington DC, WMATA

Does Prolonged Detention Create Secure Communities?: D.C.’s Immigration Detainer Compliance Amendment Act

Posted on January 6th, 2012 by ERC

By Valentine Khaminwa, ERC Compliance Coordinator

Renowned for its multicultural tapestry, Washington, D.C., hosts many immigrant communities, including people from El Salvador, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, China, West Africa and Vietnam. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, between April 2010 and July 2011, Washington D.C.’s population grew at a faster rate than any state. Much of this growth is likely within the city’s immigrant population, which was over 12% of the District’s population in 2010. With this increase in foreign-born residents in the District and around the country, issues of diversity, immigration and documentation continue to dominate the political dialogue.

Today, the D.C. City Council introduced the Immigration Detainer Compliance Amendment Act of 2011 to protect the city’s immigrant population from the harsh, sweeping effect of the Secure Communities Program (S-Comm). As previously discussed on For Civil Minds here and here, S-Comm is designed to have federal, state and local agencies work together to identify and remove serious criminals who are not in the United States legally, but it’s implementation has been far more sweeping. In 2011, most people detained or deported through S-Comm did not have a criminal record, or were low-level offenders. (more…)

Categorized as Immigrant Rights
Tags: DC City Council, immigrant rights, Immigration Detainer Compliance Amendment Act, Secure Communities, Washington DC

Washington, D.C. Sets the Example on Immigrant Rights

Posted on October 21st, 2011 by ERC

By: Adriana Lopez, Immigrant Rights Program Manager

Last year, Washington, D.C. made history by being the first city in the country to reject participation in the Secure Communities Program (S-Comm). S-Comm is an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) program intended to identify and deport “serious” criminal offenders through fingerprint sharing between local law enforcement and federal immigration officials (for more info on and the history of S-Comm, read our previous blog here). However, contrary to the goals of the program, studies have shown that the S-Comm is not targeted primarily towards serious offenders. It has also had the dangerous effect of discouraging immigrants and others from contacting law enforcement when they are witnesses to or victims of a crime.

This Wednesday, Washington, D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray made history again by signing an Executive Order directing D.C. agencies not to inquire about a person’s immigration status unless his or her status is central to a criminal investigation. Though this may seem like a small action, its impact not only protects the civil rights of our community members, but makes all of us safer. Across the country, we have seen that the involvement of local police in federal immigration enforcement only wedges a deeper divide between police officers and law-abiding immigrants because they are afraid to report crimes or serve as witnesses. Under this Executive Order, individuals who may be witnesses to or victims of a crime do not have to fear possible deportation for reporting to those who serve and protect our communities. (more…)

Categorized as Immigrant Rights
Tags: ICE, immigrant rights, immigration, Secure Communities, Vince Gray, Washington DC

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