Mass. Community Pays $70K to Resolve Allegations of Unlawful Steering

The owner and operator of a 224-unit multifamily housing complex in Massachusetts recently agreed to pay up to $70,000 to resolve allegations of housing discrimination based on race and national origin, according to an announcement by the Justice Department.

Based on its investigation, the department alleged that the community discriminated against persons of South Asian descent by steering them to certain buildings in the eight-building complex from at least 2009 through 2014. Under the terms of the settlement, the community agreed to establish a $70,000 settlement fund to compensate those affected by the alleged discriminatory practices.

In a related matter resolved in 2015, the community agreed to make changes to its rental practices to resolve allegations that it had been steering families with children to certain buildings and units in violation of fair housing law. In compliance with the court-approved settlement in that case, which remains in effect today, the community has reformed its practices and trained its employees to provide housing opportunities to prospects equally and without regard to their race or national origin, or to whether they have children.