WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Department of Justice announced Sept. 14 that the Housing Authority of the city of Anderson, Indiana, which owns and operates 143 public housing units in the city, after allegations of discrimination against residents based on sex and disability.
“Sexual harassment of women and discrimination against persons with disabilities are unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” said acting assistant attorney general John M. Gore of the Civil Rights Division. “We will continue to vigorously combat such discrimination, including in public housing.”
According to allegations, employees of the housing authority subjected female tenants to sexual harassment and subjected tenants with disabilities to discrimination on the basis of their disability. The Housing Authority will pay $70,000 to compensate the seven victims identified by the Justice Department.
“Enjoying a safe place to live, free of discrimination and sexual harassment is a fundamental right we all are entitled to,” said Josh Minkler, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “My office remains committed to aggressively pursuing the enforcement of civil rights and fighting discrimination in Indiana.”