Housing Policy and Local Ordinances
Boston Housing Authority v. Y.A.
In December of 2018, ACLU Women’s Rights Project and the ACLU of Massachusetts filed an amicus brief at the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court supporting a domestic violence survivor who asserted the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) as a defense to her eviction for nonpayment of rent that directly resulted from physical, emotional, and economic abuse. VAWA prohibits covered housing providers, like Boston Housing Authority, from evicting or otherwise discriminating against survivors of domestic violence for reasons caused by their abuse.
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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12 Housing Policy and Local Ordinances Cases
Court Case
Dec 2018
Housing Policy and Local Ordinances
Agan v. Krambeck
In January 2018, WRP and the ACLU of Iowa filed an amicus brief with the Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the National Housing Law Project, National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty, National Network to End Domestic Violence, and Shriver Center addressing the proper application of Iowa’s Right to Assistance Law. The law protects people who summon emergency assistance from eviction or other landlord- or city-imposed penalties and preempts local crime nuisance ordinances. It was enacted with the advocacy of the ACLU, Iowa Coalition, and others.
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Court Case
Dec 2018
Housing Policy and Local Ordinances
Agan v. Krambeck
In January 2018, WRP and the ACLU of Iowa filed an amicus brief with the Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the National Housing Law Project, National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty, National Network to End Domestic Violence, and Shriver Center addressing the proper application of Iowa’s Right to Assistance Law. The law protects people who summon emergency assistance from eviction or other landlord- or city-imposed penalties and preempts local crime nuisance ordinances. It was enacted with the advocacy of the ACLU, Iowa Coalition, and others.
Court Case
May 2018
Housing Policy and Local Ordinances
Racial Justice
NFHA v. Carson
The American Civil Liberties Union, along with a coalition of civil rights law firms, represent the National Fair Housing Alliance, Texas Low Income Housing Information Service, and Texas Appleseed in a federal lawsuit challenging HUD Secretary Ben Carson’s January 2018 decision to delay key portions of the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) Rule. The suit defends the AFFH Rule as a crucial tool for dismantling racial segregation and fair housing barriers for people of color, survivors of gender-based violence, people with disabilities, and low-income people.
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Court Case
May 2018
Housing Policy and Local Ordinances
Racial Justice
NFHA v. Carson
The American Civil Liberties Union, along with a coalition of civil rights law firms, represent the National Fair Housing Alliance, Texas Low Income Housing Information Service, and Texas Appleseed in a federal lawsuit challenging HUD Secretary Ben Carson’s January 2018 decision to delay key portions of the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) Rule. The suit defends the AFFH Rule as a crucial tool for dismantling racial segregation and fair housing barriers for people of color, survivors of gender-based violence, people with disabilities, and low-income people.
Court Case
May 2018
Housing Policy and Local Ordinances
Women's Rights
Bank of America v. City of Miami
Whether cities have standing to sue under the Fair Housing Act for the economic impact of discriminatory banking practices.
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Court Case
May 2018
Housing Policy and Local Ordinances
Women's Rights
Bank of America v. City of Miami
Whether cities have standing to sue under the Fair Housing Act for the economic impact of discriminatory banking practices.
Court Case
Aug 2017
Housing Policy and Local Ordinances
Board of Trustees of the Village of Groton v. Pirro
The case involves Groton’s enforcement of its nuisance ordinance against a landlord based on calls for police service, circumstances that did not constitute criminal activity, and other unjustified grounds. The ACLU filed an amicus brief that highlighted the serious due process and First Amendment issues with the ordinance, as well as the impact of these ordinances on domestic violence survivors and people with disabilities.
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Court Case
Aug 2017
Housing Policy and Local Ordinances
Board of Trustees of the Village of Groton v. Pirro
The case involves Groton’s enforcement of its nuisance ordinance against a landlord based on calls for police service, circumstances that did not constitute criminal activity, and other unjustified grounds. The ACLU filed an amicus brief that highlighted the serious due process and First Amendment issues with the ordinance, as well as the impact of these ordinances on domestic violence survivors and people with disabilities.