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Protecting the American dream: federal government cracks down on alleged discrimination against homebuyers with disabilities

February 27, 2012  |  AAPD Power Grid Blog Team

Owning a home is a part of the American dream.  For the overwhelming bulk of homebuyers, securing a home loan is a necessary step toward homeownership.  The Fair Housing Act makes it illegal to discriminate against homebuyers with disabilities—including by imposing different terms and conditions of a loan or including additional criteria or requirements in the application process.

Today the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) charged that Bank of America violated the Fair Housing Act by imposing extra burdens on people with disabilities in the application process.  HUD alleges that Bank of America required applicants with disabilities to provide statements from their physicians and burdensome documentation of their disability payments.   The Department of Justice (DOJ) is proceeding with the matter.

The discriminatory practices alleged in HUD’s charge demonstrate the need for robust enforcement of our civil rights laws.  HUD and DOJ are fighting to ensure that people with disabilities do not face discriminatory barriers to homeownership.  It is important that private citizens do our part.  HUD investigated Bank of America after reviewing complaints submitted to the department.   People who believe they are the victims of housing discrimination should contact HUD at 1-800-669-9777 (voice), (800) 927-9275 (TTY).

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Comments

Submitted by Sparrow Hawk at 09:12 AM on March 18, 2012
It's about time banks helped disabled people were abled people were able to get home loans. I would love to own my own home/apartment because there aren't enough of these services available to us. At the present time I still live with family because of no income except for SSI ( in a few months that will change) and they're not getting any younger.
Submitted by LM at 07:48 PM on March 12, 2012
THE US DEPT OF JUSTICE ARE ALSO USING DECEPTIVE PRACTICES IN THEIR PSOB DISABILITY PROGRAM, WHICH WAS CREATED TO AID DISABLED PUBLIC SAFTEY OFFICERS WHO WERE PERMENENTLY DISABLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY AND ARE NO LONGER ABLE TO WORK.... I KNOW BECAUSE I AM TRING TO FIGHT THEM AS WE SPEAK, BUT THEY HAVE ALL THE POWER AND AS A DISABLED NYC POLICE OFFICER I HAVE LIMETED RECORCES AND AM HAVING A VERY HARD TIME SINCE THEY HAVE UNLIMETED RECORCES TO USE.... AND I AM FINDING IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND HELP TO GO AGAINST SUCH A FORCE..... DISABLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY JULY 2005 FROM THE NYC POLICE DEPARTMENT....EMAIL ADDRESS lmol01@gmail.com, I HAVE DOCUMENTED PROOF OF THE UNFAIR PRACTICES TO DISABLED INDIVIDUALS, SO DONT BE FOOLED BY THE SMOOTH TALK,BUT BE GUIDED BY THEIR ACTIONS.

The American Association of People with Disabilities:

Promoting equal opportunity, economic power, independent living and political participation for people with disabilities.

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