Webinar
National Fair Housing Forum: Investigating Complaints of Sexual Harassment in Housing Situations
July 09, 2020 | 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM EDT
Online
Description
Timely, comprehensive, and thorough investigation of sexual harassment complaints in housing situations is critical during this unprecedented time. Join HUD, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), and the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) as they participate in a roundtable discussion on investigation of complaints of sexual harassment in housing situations, strategies to investigate and prevent sexual harassment in housing, and sexual harassment cases on which HUD, DOJ, and NFHA have collaborated. This forum complements the preceding forum entitled "A Conversation on Sexual Harassment."
Overview
1. Welcome from FHEO Leadership
2. Open Forum with FHIP and FHAP Staff
3. The Importance of Timely, Comprehensive, and Thorough Investigations
4. Emerging Topic Roundtable Discussion
- Applicable sections of the Fair Housing Act and regulations
- Important case law
- Emotional support and care of complainants of sexual harassment
- Investigative strategies
- How to identify additional complainants and witnesses
- Aggrieved persons and assessment of injury
- Working with law enforcement
- Prompt judicial relief
5. Closing Remarks
Materials
While not required, FHIP and FHAP staff are encouraged to view the preceding Forum entitled, "A Conversation on Sexual Harassment in Housing Situations" before viewing this Forum.
Resources
Elements of Proof
This 2018 guidance to staff of HUD's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity explains how to identify the proper elements of proof when investigating Fair Housing Act complaints.
HUD 2016 Rule on Harassment
This is HUD's rule on "Quid Pro Quo and Hostile Environment Harassment and Liability for Discriminatory Housing Practices Under the Fair Housing Act," which includes detailed information about sexual harassment in housing situations.
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 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.
This forum features the "Sexual Harassment in Housing Is Illegal" DOJ 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 Two Referenced Sexual Harassment Cases
Smith v. City of Baltimore and United States v. Webb are two examples of cases involving sexual harassment in housing situations. View additional cases.
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