Webinar
National Fair Housing Forum: A Conversation on Sexual Harassment in Housing Situations
June 25, 2020 | 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM EDT
Online
Description
"If I did not have sex with him, he was going to put me out. As a single mom, I had no choice. I did not want to lose my housing."
- Victim of Housing Discrimination
Combating sexual harassment in housing situations is especially important during this unprecedented time. Join NFHTA for a discussion with HUD, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), and the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) regarding sexual harassment in housing situations, HUD and DOJ's priority to fully investigate and prevent sexual harassment in housing, and how FHIP and FHAP organizations can assist victims.
Overview
1. Welcome from Former Assistant Secretary Anna María Farías
2. FHEO Leadership Introduce National Fair Housing Forums
3. Open Forum with FHIP and FHAP Staff
4. Emerging Topic Presentation
- What constitutes sexual harassment under the Fair Housing Act?
- Who is most vulnerable?
- Key case highlights and affirmative outcomes
- Resources for education and outreach
- Overview of investigation techniques
- List of enforcement agencies
5. Closing Remarks
Materials
None
Resources
HUD.gov Sexual Harassment Resources Webpage
Visit HUD's sexual harassment resources webpage for additional information about sexual harassment in housing, including training tools, fact sheets, videos, testimonials, and more.
HUD Exchange Sexual Harassment Training and Resources
Additional resources from HUD are available on the sexual harassment resources page on the HUD Exchange, which includes four training programs and several FAQs about sexual harassment in housing.
U.S. Department of Justice Sexual Harassment Webpage
Visit the Department of Justice's webpage on sexual harassment in housing to find recent cases, press releases, and articles.
National Fair Housing Alliance Sexual Harassment Education and Outreach Materials
In partnership with HUD and others, NFHA produced many types of education and outreach materials the National Fair Housing Alliance including print public service announcements (PSAs) in 8 eight languages, pre-roll video in English, radio PSAs (including localizable radio PSAs) in English and Spanish, and TV PSAs in English and Spanish.
The forum featured the Not Just at Work TV PSA.
Safe at Home Podcast About Sexual Harassment in Housing Situations
Actress and activist Suzzanne Douglas interviews three courageous women who share their moving stories about sexual harassment in housing situations--and how they fought back. The stories range from a landlord groping a prospective tenant, to a tenant being threatened with eviction if she didn't have sex with the property manager. Learn how the Fair Housing Act protects everyone from sexual harassment in housing situations.
HUD's Title VIII Investigation Handbook Which Includes a Section on Sexual Harassment
To learn more about how to conduct an investigation of a sexual harassment case, find helpful information in HUD's Title VIII Investigation Handbook, Chapter 8, Section 8-3.
Information Regarding Three Referenced Sexual Harassment Cases
Shellhammer v. Llewellyn
In 1983, this case established that sexual harassment in housing situations violates the federal Fair Housing Act. The original case documents are not available, but an appellate decision outlines key factors in the case.) [Shellhammer v. Llewellyn, Fair Housing Fair Lending Report., para 15742 (W.D. Ohio 1983), aff'd 770 F. 2nd 167 (6th Cir. 1985) (unpublished).]
United States v. Kansas City Kansas Housing Authority
The Department of Justice brought this case after an investigation by HUD into acts of sexual harassment of more than a dozen women by three employees of the housing authority. [United States v. Kansas City, Kansas Housing Authority, No. 2:15-cv-09352 (D. Kan. Sept. 29, 2017)]
CNY Fair Housing, Inc. v. Waterbury
This case involved the owner of approximately 50 rental properties in Oswego, New York, who demanded sexual favors from dozens of tenants in exchange for lower rent and other benefits of tenancy. The case was investigated by CNY Fair Housing, a nonprofit fair housing agency that assisted the women who filed the complaint. [CNY Fair Housing, Inc. v. Waterbury, No. 5:17-cv-868 (N.D.N.Y.)] The Department of Justice also settled a complaint against Waterbury.) [United States v. Waterbury, No. 5:18-440 (N.D.N.Y. Aug. 9, 2019) (consent decree entered)]
Speaker Bios
About the Forums
This series of online discussions is designed to allow HUD and its partners to address substantive emerging fair housing concerns during this unprecedented time. The Forums convene HUD's FHIP and FHAP partners in a multi-directional conversation regarding processing complaints, conducting investigations, and managing agencies during a crisis and its aftermath. Forum discussions will necessarily change over time as new fair housing issues emerge.
Disclaimer: The National Fair Housing Forum webinar series provides training by and to HUD partners, including entities and persons participating in HUD's FHAP Program and FHIP Program. The series offers multidirectional idea sharing in real-time. The views offered by speakers and participants do not necessarily reflect HUD's views. Similarly, unless otherwise noted, documents provided as part of the webinar were created and maintained by other public and private organizations and may not reflect HUD's official position. HUD-produced guidance documents, except when based on statutory or regulatory authority or law, do not have the force and effect of law and are not meant to bind the public in any way. Such guidance documents are intended only to provide clarity to the public regarding existing requirements under the law or HUD policies. The information is not intended to provide legal advice to any individual or entity. Please refer to relevant laws and regulations and/or your own legal advisor before taking any action based on information appearing on this site or any site to which it may be linked. Some materials have been translated into languages other than English; slight variations may have resulted from the translation.
Tags: Fair Housing NFHTA