U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Announces Settlement in Los Angeles Disability Housing Suit
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced a landmark agreement with the City of Los Angeles to provide accessibility improvements for individuals with disabilities throughout the City’s affordable housing program. The agreement announced today resolves longstanding HUD findings of noncompliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act. To read the agreement click here.
The ground-breaking settlement anticipates the development of 10,000 units of new affordable housing over the next ten years, including 1,500 accessible units for individuals with disabilities, a share that exceeds current state and federal requirements. The City further committed to providing 3,100 accessible housing units for individuals with disabilities by retrofitting hundreds of existing affordable housing developments across the City that were not constructed or rehabilitated to meet federal accessibility standards. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in all programs, services, and activities of local governments.
While the lack of affordable housing is a national crisis, it is particularly acute in California where housing has long been more expensive than most of the country. Beginning in about 1970, however, the gap between California’s home prices and those in the rest country started to widen. Between 1970 and 1980, California home prices went from 30 percent above U.S. levels to more than 80 percent higher. This trend has continued.
Today, an average California home costs $440,000, about two–and–a–half times the average national home price ($180,000). Also, California’s average monthly rent is about $1,240, 50% higher than the rest of the country ($840 per month). These costs are simply out of reach for most people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) without the help of programs like Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
Although this settlement makes important advances in creating accessible housing resources for individuals with I/DD, it also furthers a vital effort to ensure that individuals with I/DD are included in the conversation about housing in our communities. From affordability to accessibility, the needs and desires of these members of our community must be taken into account as we develop housing, public spaces, and public services. Doing so helps to ensure that our communities are accessible, enjoyable, and safe – for everyone.