TABLE OF

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To The Congress of the United States 15

FY2014-2015 Fair Housing Highlights 

About FHEO 

Our Mission

Guidance

Affirmatively Furthering Fair 

Housing Final Rule

AFFH Project Management Office

Assessment of Fair Housing

Enforcement

Bases of Complaints

Compliance

Voluntary Compliance Agreements

Fair Lending Accomplishments

Trending Topics in Lending Discrimination

People We’ve Helped

Language Access Barriers Removed for Jannette Cruz of Hazleton, Pennsylvania

Eviction Averted for the Martinez Family of 

West Palm Beach, Florida

Looking Ahead

FHEO Events

Fair Housing Month

National Training & Policy Conference

Fair Housing & Equal Opportunity 

Programs

Section 3: Creating Opportunities for 

Low-Inome Residents

The Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP)

The Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP)
TO THE CONGRESS OF 

THE UNITED STATES

FHEO Annual Report FY 2014 & 2015 2

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development 

(HUD) is pleased to present the Fiscal Year 2014/2015 Annual Report on the State of Fair Housing in America. This 

report has been prepared in accordance with sections 

808(e)(2) and (6) of the Fair Housing Act and section 561(j) 

of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1987.

HUD is committed to creating opportunities for every 

resident of this nation by enforcing federal fair housing 

laws that ensure equal access to housing regardless of a 

person’s race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial 

status or disability. In addition, HUD ensures that HUD-assisted housing is made available, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity under HUD’s Equal Access 

Rule and provides additional protections for victims of 

domestic violence under the Violence Against Women Act 

(VAWA). 

Going forward, HUD will continue to live up to the public’s 

trust, operate its programs in a nondiscriminatory manner, and work toward creating sustainable, inclusive communities of opportunity for all.

Sincerely,

Julián Castro

Secretary of Housing and Urban Development 
3 FHEO Annual Report FY 2014 & 2015

Fiscal years 2014 and 2015 were busy and productive 

years for HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO), as we remained vigilant in our enforcement 

of the nation’s fair housing laws and efforts to foster inclusive communities of opportunity. 

Our efforts to enforce fair housing laws resulted in investigations and successful settlements of cases, providing significant relief for victims of discrimination as well as other 

relief in the public interest. Cases included those that alleged “redlining” by lenders.

We also conducted an array of fair housing enforcement 

and education and outreach activities that promoted 

housing choice; worked to eliminate barriers to equal opportunity in housing; and developed and disseminated important policy guidance and rules. Among our most significant accomplishments was issuing the final Affirmatively 

Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) rule, which provides HUD 

program participants with a framework for identifying the 

fair housing challenges impacting their communities and 

eliminating obstacles to housing choice.

Sincerely,

Gustavo Velasquez, 

Assistant Secretary

Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity
FHEO Annual Report FY 2014 & 2015 4

FY 2014 & 2015 

FAIR HOUSING HIGHLIGHTS

November 2013: HUD awards 

National Media Campaign grant

June 2014: U.S. Senate confirms 

Assistant Secretary nominee 

Velasquez

October 2014: HUD reaches $5 

million maternity discrimination 

settlement with Wells Fargo

March 2015: Secretary Castro 

announces expansion of Section 3 

Business Registry

April 2015: Acting Assistant 

Attorney General Vanita Gupta kicks 

off Fair Housing Month 2015

May 2015: HUD reaches historic 

“redlining” settlement with 

Associated Bank, totaling 

$200 million

June 2015: U. S. Supreme Court 

affirms that disparate impact claims 

may be brought under the Fair 

Housing Act

July 2015: Secretary Castro signs 

Affirmatively Furthering Fair 

Housing Final Rule

September 2015: FHEO hosts 

National Fair Housing Training & 

Policy Conference
ABOUT FHEO

OUR MISSION

The mission of the Office of Fair Housing 

and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) is to eliminate housing discrimination, promote 

economic opportunity, and achieve diverse, inclusive communities by leading 

the nation in the enforcement, administration, development, and public understanding of federal fair housing policies 

and laws.

FHEO enforces laws that protect people 

from discrimination on the basis of race, 

color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, and familial status. In addition, 

FHEO ensures fair housing compliance 

by housing providers that receive HUD 

funding.

WHAT WE DO

Conduct compliance reviews

Investigate complaints

Ensure civil rights in HUD programs

Manage fair housing grants

Led by Assistant Secretary 

Gustavo Velasquez

487 full-time employees in 

FY 2015

513 full-time employees in 

FY 2014

10 regional offices

48 field offices

$ 65.3M FHEO Budget 

for FY 2015 

$ 66M FHEO Budget for 

FY 2014

5 FHEO Annual Report FY 2014 & 2015
FHEO EVENTS

FAIR HOUSING MONTH

The theme for Fair Housing Month 2014 and 2015 

was “Fair Housing Is Your Right: Use It!” In commemoration of Fair Housing Month, HUD held an 

Opening Ceremony in HUD Headquarters, while 

Regional and Field Offices held events and trainings throughout the country.

NATIONAL TRAINING AND POLICY 

CONFERENCE

The 2015 Fair Housing Training and Policy Conference, “A Call to Advance Housing Rights and 

Opportunities,” was held September 1-3, 2015, in 

HUD Headquarters. The conference brought together more than 300 fair housing leaders, civil 

rights advocates, and state and local government 

officials for robust discussions about today’s fair 

housing challenges and cutting-edge strategies to 

further fair housing throughout the nation.

FHEO Annual Report FY 2014 & 2015 6

Case Spotlight #1: Housing Agency Held Accountable for Sexual Harassment

In July 2015, Southeastern Community and Family Services, Inc., in Scotland, North Carolina, and two of its 

former employees agreed to pay $2.7 million in monetary damages and civil penalties for sexually harassing 

female Housing Choice Voucher program participants. Legal Aid of North Carolina, Inc.’s, Fair Housing Project 

had brought the matter to the Department of Justice (DOJ), prompting DOJ to file a lawsuit in December 2014. 

HUD also filed a Secretary-initiated complaint against the housing agency, conducted a systemic investigation, 

and referred the case as a potential pattern or practice case to DOJ in March 2014.

Members of FHEO’s Philadelphia Office at a 

Fair Housing Month 2014 kick-off event.

United States Attorney General Loretta Lynch spoke at the 

National Training & Policy Conference at HUD Headquarters.
7 FHEO Annual Report FY 2014 & 2015

GUIDANCE

AFFIRMATIVELY FURTHERING FAIR HOUSING FINAL RULE

The issuance of the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) Final Rule on July 16, 2015, made FY 2015 

a landmark year. AFFH is the inclusive communities piece of the Fair Housing Act that empowers HUD 

program participants to take proactive steps to promote equal access to housing for every person. The 

AFFH Final Rule encourages a regional, collaborative approach to addressing fair housing issues, requires 

community participation, and provides local jurisdictions with the maps, data and tools they need to 

make informed planning and spending decisions. It provides a rigorous planning mechanism for HUD’s 

grantees, including states, counties, cities, and public housing agencies to further integration and access 

to opportunity for all people.

Secretary Castro signed the final rule in the company of AFFH Project Management Office (PMO) members and FHEO staff.

“In this country, of all 

countries, a person’s zip code 

shouldn’t decide their destiny.”

 – President 

Barack Obama
FHEO Annual Report FY 2014 & 2015 8

Office of Fair 

Housing & Equal 

Opportunity

Office of General 

Counsel

Office of the Chief 

Financial Officer

Office of Housing

Office of Community 

Planning & 

Development

Office of Policy 

Development & 

Research

Office of Strategic 

Planning & 

Management

Office of Field Policy 

& Management

Office of Public & 

Indian Housing

Office of the Chief 

Information Officer AFFH PROJECT MANAGEMENT OFFICE (PMO)

AFFH is a team effort. The AFFH PMO, a cross-office group led by FHEO, manages the AFFH implementation effort. Representatives

 from various HUD offices meet weekly to keep the initiative on track and ensure that all affected parties are informed.

ASSESSMENT OF FAIR HOUSING

TOOLS

• Community participation

• Data and Mapping tool

• HUD provided demographic data

ANALYSIS

• Patterns of segregation and integration

• Racially and ethically concentrated areas of 

poverty

• Disparities in access to opportunity

• Disproportionate housing needs

ASSESSMENT OF FAIR HOUSING
9 FHEO Annual Report FY 2014 & 2015

Case Spotlight #2: Supreme Court Affirms Disparate 

Impact Claims under the Fair Housing Act

On June 25 2015, the Supreme Court upheld the discriminatory effects method of proving violations of the Fair 

Housing Act. In Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs v. The Inclusive Communities Project, Inc., 

the Supreme Court held that disparate impact claims are 

cognizable under the Fair Housing Act. 

Case Spotlight #3: Pennsylvania Town Repeals 

Nuisance Ordinance 

In September 2014, HUD reached a conciliation agreement in a case involving a Norristown, Pennsylvania, ordinance that required landlords to evict tenants who cal 911 

more than three times. HUD alleged that the ordinance 

violated the Fair Housing Act because it had a discriminatory effect on women who are survivors of domestic violence. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) sued the 

city on behalf of a single mother who had been severely 

injured as a result of domestic violence; the city agreed to 

pay the complainant $495,000. Under HUD’s conciliation 

agreement, Norristown agreed to repeal the ordinance, 

conduct fair housing training for city officials, distribute a 

fair housing rights brochure that specifically encourages 

tenants to call the police when they need help, and collaborate with a local domestic violence advocacy group.
FHEO Annual Report FY 2014 & 2015 10

FHEO enforces the Fair Housing Act by investigating complaints of housing discrimination. HUD is assisted in these efforts by the state and local 

agencies in the Fair Housing Assistance Program. In FY 2014 and 2015, 

HUD and FHAP agencies achieved large-scale settlements. HUD investigated, conciliated or charged cases of housing discrimination arising 

from individual as well as Secretary-initiated complaints. HUD also investigated systemic patterns of discrimination by a particular housing 

provider or a group of providers in an industry. 

ENFORCEMENT

$224,708,055

Monetary relief in housing 

discrimination cases in 

FY 2015

8,249

Completed investigations 

in FY 2015 by HUD and 

FHAP agencies

$24,544,871

Monetary relief in housing 

discrimination cases in 

FY 2014

8,361

Completed investigations 

in FY 2014 by HUD and 

FHAP agencies

BASES OF COMPLAINTS

The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, 

national origin, religion, sex, disability and familial status. The majority 

of complaints filed under the Fair Housing Act in both FY 2014 and FY 

2015 were on the basis of disability. Race was the next most common 

basis, making up 2,383 complaints in FY 2014 and 2,291 complaints in 

FY 2015. Familial status, sex, national origin, and retaliation each made 

up between 800 and 1100 complaints each year, while religion and color 

were the least reported bases. Overall, the number of complaints from 

each basis in FY 2014 and FY 2015 were very similar. Complaints are often filed under more than one basis.

Basis of Complaint FY 2014 FY 

2015

Disability 4,621 4,605

Race 2,383 2,291

Familial Status 1,051 1,031

Sex 879 915

National Origin 1,067 898

Retaliation 867 832

Religion 223 225

Color 146 151

HUD & FHAP Complaints by Basis for FY 

2014 and FY 2015, in order from most to 

fewest number of complaints in FY 2015. 
11 FHEO Annual Report FY 2014 & 2015

COMPLIANCE

FHEO regularly reviews recipients of HUD funding for their compliance with civil rights laws. Violations 

are often resolved through Voluntary Compliance Agreements (VCA). Below are examples of VCAs from 

FY 2014-2015

VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE AGREEMENTS

Housing Authority of the City of Hazleton (PA), May 2015

• Protected class: National origin

• Issue: Housing Authority allegedly did not provide all required translation services to clients with 

limited English proficiency, requiring Spanish-speaking individuals to provide their own translator.

• Highlights of the Voluntary Compliance Agreement: Payment of $14,000 to complainants, interpretation and translation services for clients, hiring bilingual staff, and promotion of available language 

assistance services in the community.
FHEO Annual Report FY 2014 & 2015 12

University Village, DeKalb, Illinois, November 2014

• Protected class: Persons with disabilities

• Issue: Owner and operator of apartment complex allegedly retaliated against residents who requested reasonable accommodations. 

• Highlights of the Voluntary Compliance Agreement: Payment of $255,000 to two complainants, 

development of reasonable accommodation policy and assessment of tenants’ needs, and commitment to maintain 5% of units as fully accessible.

Aurora (IL) Housing Authority, April 2014

• Protected classes: Persons with disabilities, families with children, and race

• Issue: Housing authority’s plan to rebuild a demolished public housing complex allegedly would 

have denied housing to persons with disabilities and displaced families with children and those on 

the waiting list, most of whom were African American.

• Highlights of the Voluntary Compliance Agreement: Development of 100 units of affordable family 

housing.

City of Dubuque, Iowa, March 2014

• Protected class: Race

• Issue: Dubuque’s Housing Choice Voucher program residency preference system allegedly disadvantaged African Americans. Purge of waiting list removed 90% of African American applicants.

• Highlights of the Voluntary Compliance Agreement: Elimination of residency preference system and 

outreach to underserved communities.

Nebraska Department of Economic Development (NDED), March 2014

• Protected class: National origin

• Issue: NDED allegedly did not take reasonable steps to make its Community Development Block 

Grant and HOME Investment Partnerships Program language accessible.

• Highlights of the Voluntary Compliance Agreement: NDED will analyze language assistance needs 

and develop a language assistance plan, and provide training and monitoring for sub-recipients in 

CDBG and HOME programs.
13 FHEO Annual Report FY 2014 & 2015

FAIR LENDING ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Access to credit affects a family’s ability to purchase or refinance a 

home, and in turn their ability to accumulate wealth to pass on to 

future generations. In an effort to ensure that access to credit is 

made available to all Americans equally, HUD and FHAP partners 

completed 618 cases of lending discrimination in FY 2014 and FY 

2015, including cases related to maternity leave, “redlining,” and 

disability income. 

Overall, lending discrimination complaints trended down over the 

past five fiscal years, with 393 lending discrimination complaints 

filed in FY 2011 and 302 filed in FY 2015.

393	
   383	
  

325	
   316	
   302	
  

FY	
  2011	
   FY	
  2012	
   FY	
  2013	
   FY	
  2014	
   FY	
  2015	
  

Case Spotlight #4: Maternity Leave Case Settled 

with Wells Fargo

In October 2014, HUD reached a $5 million settlement with Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, the nation’s 

largest provider of home mortgage loans, resolving 

allegations that the lender discriminated against 

women who were pregnant, or had recently given 

birth and were on maternity leave. 

Under its authority to enforce the Fair Housing Act, 

HUD has conducted an intensive campaign to end 

maternity leave-related lending discrimination. 

Since 2010, about 190 maternity leave discrimination complaints have been filed with HUD, resulting 

in more than 40 settlements for a total of almost $7 

million. 

FY 2015 National Media Campaign print advertisement 

focused on lending discrimination.
FHEO Annual Report FY 2014 & 2015 14

TRENDING TOPICS IN LENDING DISCRIMINATION

Maternity Leave

In FY 2014-2015, HUD conducted an intensive campaign to address lending discrimination related to 

maternity leave. In FY 2014 alone, HUD investigated nine lending discrimination cases on the basis of 

maternity leave, obtaining $194,000 for complainants. 

FY 2015 brought HUD’s largest ever maternity leave case against Wells Fargo Home Mortgage. In addition to the monetary relief, Wells Fargo modified its underwriting guidelines for evaluating loan applications from those on maternity leave. For more on the Wells Fargo case, see the Case Spotlight on 

page 11.

Redlining

Even as our nation is more multicultural than ever before, redlining, the discriminatory practice of denying mortgage financing to people in certain areas based on race or national origin, persists. 

In FY 2015, Midland States Bancorp agreed to originate $8 million in mortgages and open full-service 

branches in minority communities in response to an allegation that it excluded African Americans 

and Hispanics from its service area. Facing similar allegations, Associated Bank, N.A., agreed to a $200 

million settlement – the highest settlement ever for a “redlining case” that included lower interest rate 

mortgages and down payment and closing cost assistance to qualified borrowers in certain majority 

minority census tracts.

Disability Income

HUD has investigated a number of complaints in recent years alleging discrimination against mortgage 

applicants who rely on disability income. In some of the cases, lenders allegedly applied more intrusive 

and burdensome income-documentation standards, including requiring medical documentation.

In FY 2014, the Department of Justice issued a $1.5 million Consent Order against Fifth Third Bank. HUD 

charged the bank with discrimination in August 2013. The $1.5 million settlement fund compensated 

eligible mortgage loan applicants who were asked to provide a letter from their doctor documenting 

their disability. Fifth Third Bank also agreed to ensure that future applicants with disabilities are not 

required to provide such documentation. 
15 FHEO Annual Report FY 2014 & 2015

FAIR HOUSING & 

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY 

PROGRAMS

SECTION 3: CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR 

LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS

Breaking Records in Pittsburgh

Section 3 changes people’s lives by connecting them to 

opportunity in their communities. The Housing Authority 

of the City of Pittsburgh (PA) partnered with Allies & Ross 

Management and Development Corporation to develop 

Skyline Terrace in a historic, predominantly African-American neighborhood. At $160 million, Skyline Terrace was 

the largest contract ever awarded to a minority-owned 

business in the city. 

To ensure the project brought opportunities to Section 3 residents, local stakeholders formed the Minority Women-Owned Business Enterprises/Section 3 Committee, which included the Housing Authority of 

the City of Pittsburgh (HACP), the city government, local business organizations, and entrepreneurs. The 

committee held a series of community meetings and open house events to inform residents about Section 3 and its goals, and to create a resident inclusion model for future projects. One Section 3 contractor 

hired 54 new employees within the first year – tying HACP’s record.

Section 3 Business Registry Expanded

In March 2015, HUD expanded the Section 3 Business Registry 

from a 5-city pilot to a nationwide resource database. The registry allows Section 3-eligible businesses to enter their information into a public database. The expanded registry also allows 

public housing authorities and other government agencies to 

identify Section 3 businesses for HUD-funded contracts and 

connects job seekers with potential employers. 

594	
  

725	
  

1455	
  

FY	
  2013	
   FY	
  2014	
   FY	
  2016	
  

Total	
  Businesses	
  in	
  Sec:on	
  3	
  Registry	
  

Fiscal	
  Year	
  End,	
  2013-­‐2015	
  
FHEO Annual Report FY 2014 & 2015 16

THE FAIR HOUSING INITIATIVES 

PROGRAM (FHIP)

FHIP provides funds to eligible organizations 

through competitive grants under three initiatives 

that are designed to prevent or eliminate discriminatory housing practices and inform individuals of 

their rights and responsibilities under the Fair Housing Act. The Initiatives are: Fair Housing Organization 

Initiative (FHOI), Private Enforcement Initiative (PEI), 

and the Education and Outreach Initiative (EOI).

FHOI

• Supports	
  

ac,vi,es	
  to	
  

combat	
  lending	
  

discrimina,on	
  

PEI

• Carries	
  out	
  

enforcement	
  

ac,vi,es	
  in	
  over	
  

30	
  states	
  

EOI

• Conducts	
  

Na,onal	
  Media	
  

Campaign	
  

National Media Campaign

In FY 2014 and FY 2015, HUD awarded the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) approximately $2.4 

million in competitive FHIP funds to carry out a 

multi-faceted national media and web-based education and outreach campaign which included a “How 

to File a Complaint” video. The campaigns, which 

consisted of Public Service Announcements (PSAs) 

served as HUD’s leading fair housing outreach effort. 

The theme for both campaigns “Fair Housing Is Your 

Right. Use It,” included the creation, distribution, and 

placement of print ads that were translated into seven languages. Specific PSAs focused on racial steering, disability discrimination, sexual harassment, 

and discrimination based on religion. 

6.3	
  million	
  

in	
  

newspaper	
  

circula2ons	
  

$2.2	
  million	
  

in	
  donated	
  

media	
  

space	
  for	
  

public	
  PSAs	
  

280	
  milliion	
  

households	
  

reached	
  

with	
  

na2onal	
  TV	
  

ads	
  

21	
  million	
  radio	
  

listeners	
  reached	
  

800	
  viewers	
  

par2cipated	
  

in	
  fair	
  

housing	
  

webinars	
  

Print	
  Ads	
  

translated	
  

into	
  7	
  

languages	
  

8.2	
  million	
  in	
  

magazine	
  

circula2ons	
  

Average	
  of	
  

252	
  million	
  

viewers	
  of	
  

each	
  HUD	
  

ad	
  

$6.5	
  

million	
  in	
  

donated	
  

TV	
  2me	
  

$625,000	
  in	
  

donated	
  radio	
  

2me	
  

1,800	
  fair	
  

housing	
  

organiza2ons	
  

received	
  print	
  

PSAs	
  

Major Initiatives

Snapshot of FY 2014 Campaign
17 FHEO Annual Report FY 2014 & 2015

THE FAIR HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (FHAP)

HUD provides FHAP funding annually on a noncompetitive basis to state and local agencies that enforce 

fair housing laws that are substantially equivalent to the Fair Housing Act. FHAP agencies support a variety of fair housing administrative and enforcement activities, including complaint processing, training, 

implementation of data and information systems, and other special projects.

Case Spotlight #5: Massachusetts FHAP 

Agency Cracked Down on Predatory 

Mortgage Services

In May 2015, the Massachusetts Commission 

Against Discrimination (MCAD) ordered an 

attorney to pay $233,600 to 17 Latino homeowners who were targeted with predatory 

and deceptive mortgage modification advertising. The FHAP asserted that the attorney 

targeted Latino communities by exploiting 

their limited English proficiency, offering 

services that could be obtained for free elsewhere, making false promises, and encouraging clients to fall behind on their mortgage 

payments.

FHIPs and FHAPs across the country

FHAP agencies closed 

6,536 complaints in FY15; 

and 6,832 complaints in 

FY14.

FHAP agencies operate 

in 53 localities and in 35 

states and the District of 

Columbia.

FHAP agencies filed 4,499

complaints in FY15; and 

4,357 complaints in FY14.

At the close of FY 15, there 

were 88 FHAP agencies.
FHEO Annual Report FY 2014 & 2015 18

PEOPLE WE’VE 

HELPED

Language Access Barriers Removed for 

Jannette Cruz of Hazleton, Pennsylvania

In September 2015, HUD filed a Title VI complaint against the 

Hazleton Housing Authority (Pennsylvania) alleging that it had 

subjected Latino applicants and residents to different terms 

and conditions, while denying translation services to Spanish-speaking individuals with limited English proficiency. 

Months after moving into a Section 8 apartment in Hazleton, 

Pennsylvania, Jannette Cruz, a Spanish-speaking resident, and 

her family were allegedly forced to move out due to a bed bug 

infestation. The housing authority and landlord allegedly notified Ms. Cruz that she would lose her subsidized apartment 

because she moved out of her unit without alerting both the 

housing authority and her landlord in violation of the “Obligations of the Family” agreement, which was written only in English. “All the documents I received were in English, so because 

I don’t know how to read or understand English, I didn’t understand the responsibilities of the family,” Ms. Cruz recalled 

through an interpreter. “At the meeting, the language barrier became an even bigger problem because I couldn’t defend 

myself; I couldn’t explain myself to them or communicate with 

them clearly. The Community Justice Project, a local nonprofit public interest law firm, also filed a housing discrimination 

complaint on behalf of Ms. Cruz, and five other families with 

similar circumstances.

Eviction Averted for the Martinez Family of West 

Palm Beach, Florida

For 10 years, Roman Flores Martinez, Sr. and his wife and children lived in Meadowbrook Mobile Home Park, in West Palm 

Beach, Florida. Then in 2013, the on-site manager at the time 

allegedly imposed a set of rigorously enforced rules (never put 

into writing) that dramatically limited the ability of children living there to freely play and required families to pay a fine when 

Jannette Cruz

The Martinez family
the rules were broken. In one instance, in October 2014, Mr. Martinez, his children and a few relatives 

were having a weekend barbeque when the on-site manager allegedly walked into Mr. Martinez’s yard, 

turned down the radio the family was listening to and issued Mr. Martinez a citation that, if left unpaid, 

would lead to Mr. Martinez and his family’s eviction. Mr. Martinez knew he needed to get help so he 

contacted Talat Kayar, a West Palm Beach attorney, who informed him of his fair housing rights and 

helped him, along with seven other families, file a complaint with HUD against the owners of Meadowbrook. As a result, the owners and families reached a Conciliation Agreement that required the owners 

to establish a $99,000 victim’s compensation fund, pay $7,000 to each family that was a party to the 

complaint, fire the on-site manager and agree to develop written, non-discriminatory policies and procedures, and to provide fair housing training for its agents and employees. 

19 FHEO Annual Report FY 2014 & 2015
LOOKING AHEAD

While HUD proudly acknowledges significant success during fiscal years 2014 and 2015, HUD is committed to the following mission essential undertakings:

Please refer to the Appendix for more detailed complaint data and the protected characteristics of 

those served by HUD programs.

“HUD is aggressively addressing the various forms 

of discrimination that persist today and is committed to working to give every resident of this 

country the chance to obtain the housing of his 

or her choice and to live in thriving communities of equal opportunity.”

 – Assistant Secretary Gustavo Velasquez

FHEO Annual Report FY 2014 & 2015 20

Continued development 

of AFFH Data and 

Mapping Tools

Assessment of Fair 

Housing Tools

The President’s Fair 

Housing Council

National Media Campaign 

focused on Affirmatively 

Furthering Fair Housing and 

Inclusive Communities