HUD Issues Corrective Action Order for Noncompliance with Fair Housing Laws

On July 18, 2006, HUD issued a Corrective Action Order (CAO) to the Housing Authority of the City of Gainesville, Florida (GHA) to remedy its noncompliance with fair housing laws and regulations.

During 2005, HUD found GHA to be in noncompliance with fair housing laws and regulations in several program areas. Previously, HUD had issued letters of findings of noncompliance in GHA’s Public Housing and Multifamily Housing programs with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act, and had charged GHA with violating the Fair Housing Act by failing to make a reasonable accommodation for a married couple with disabilities. GHA has not entered into a Voluntary Compliance Agreement (VCA) or undertaken the necessary steps to remedy the noncompliance.

The CAO restricts GHA’s access to all Capital Fund Program (CFP) funds not already obligated or under contract to expenditures necessary to cure the civil rights noncompliance and to remedy emergency situations. The CAO also requires GHA to obtain HUD approval for all obligations and expenditures of CFP funds.

The restriction is in effect until GHA implements a HUD-approved Voluntary Compliance Agreement to remedy its fair housing deficiencies. HUD may take further enforcement actions if GHA fails to execute and implement a VCA in a timely manner.