![[File photo] Local residents pack the Center of Light Church in Lancaster in December 2011 for a chance to be interviewed by Department of Justice investigators. The findings of the lengthy investigation were revealed June 28, 2013. Read more here.](https://theavtimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/DOJ-1.jpg)
As part of the settlement, some people who lost their Section 8 housing vouchers over alleged discriminatory enforcement practices targeting black residents will be reinstated into the program, according to the Department of Justice.
The parties will enter into a court-enforceable agreement aimed at ensuring that black voucher holders in the Antelope Valley are not targeted because of their race, federal prosecutors said.
The Housing Authority, which administers the county’s Section 8 voucher program, has agreed to pay $1,975,000 in damages on behalf of itself and the cities, and a $25,000 civil penalty to the United States, according to the DOJ.
When combined with the DOJ’s previously announced settlement with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for related conduct, this means that a total of $2,675,000 is available to compensate people who were harmed by discriminatory enforcement of the voucher program, officials said.
“Housing choice vouchers, also known as Section 8 vouchers, are meant to help families find homes in neighborhoods that provide greater opportunities for them and their children,” said Vanita Gupta, head of the DOJ’s civil rights division. “Such families should be welcomed in every community, including those in the Antelope Valley. No family living in Los Angeles County should fear having housing authority or law enforcement personnel show up at their homes simply because they are African-American and use vouchers to pay their rent.”
U.S. Attorney: “This type of discrimination is fundamentally wrong…”
The Justice Department’s complaint, filed in federal court in Los Angeles, alleges that between the years 2004 and 2011, in direct response to racially based public opposition to the growing presence of black voucher holders living in Lancaster and Palmdale, the cities teamed with the housing authority and sheriff’s department in a targeted campaign of discriminatory enforcement against black voucher holders to discourage them from living in the cities.
“This type of discrimination is fundamentally wrong and is inconsistent with American values of freedom and equality,” said U.S. Attorney Eileen M. Decker. “This settlement, together with an earlier settlement with the sheriff’s department, will ensure it does not recur, and will also provide more than $2.6 million to compensate those harmed.”
Pursuant to the agreement announced Monday, the Housing Authority of Los Angeles County will undertake reforms to its voucher program enforcement protocol, and will cease, for at least six years, the use of unannounced field compliance checks. The Housing Authority also will not share personal information about voucher holders with any third party, including LASD or the cities.
Lancaster and Palmdale have agreed to enforce their ordinances and process complaints in a way that treats voucher holders and their landlords no differently from other renters and landlords, federal officials said. Each city will develop procedures for handling discrimination complaints, and have agreed not to seek identifying information regarding voucher holders. Each city will implement a fair and affordable marketing plan to make clear that the cities are open to all regardless of race, and each will designate a person or entity to oversee compliance and receive complaints of alleged discrimination, among other things, according to federal officials.
Employees of both cities and the Housing Authority of Los Angeles County are required to participate in fair-housing training to prevent discriminatory conduct in the future.
The victim compensation process
The DOJ estimates that hundreds of African-American voucher holders were subjected to discriminatory conduct, including many of the approximately 200 who were interviewed in the course of the department’s investigation.
The agreement announced Monday outlines a process for compensating victims. This process may take a year or longer.
African-American voucher holders who believe they may have been discriminated against by the Housing Authority of Los Angeles County, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, and/or the cities of Lancaster and Palmdale during a compliance check in the Antelope Valley between 2004 and 2011 should contact the Justice Department at 1-800-896-7743, option 98, or email the department at fairhousing@usdoj.gov.
Response from the City of Palmdale
In a news release Monday, Palmdale city officials said the settlement terms called for Palmdale to file a series of reports relating to housing ordinances and business licensing for the next two-and-a-half years, but Palmdale was not required to pay into the restitution fund.
“If anything was done wrong during the inspection process to Palmdale residents, we are thankful that they are being compensated appropriately,” stated Palmdale Communications Manager John Mlynar.
“After five years of intense scrutiny and two lawsuits, we paid nothing in the settlement,” said Palmdale City Attorney Wm. Matthew Ditzhazy. “We have maintained from the beginning that the City of Palmdale did nothing wrong and should never have been dragged into this lawsuit and I think the terms of the settlement reflect that.”
“The entire lawsuit was perplexing,” said Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford. “As a highly integrated community, we have never felt it was ‘time to go to war with Section 8’ as was claimed by others. We have worked long and hard with our community partners such as the Housing Rights Center, AV Youth Build, the Palmdale Dream Center, New Beginnings Outreach, AMCAL Multi Housing, Habitat for Humanity, National CORE, Better Housing Solutions, Newport Pacific, Meta Housing, Paving the Way and others to enhance and improve our housing programs, provide information through outreach, engage our residents by developing our Neighborhood Houses and accompanying programs—-all to create a better Palmdale.”
“The City of Palmdale merely provided financial assistance to HACOLA so that it could adequately perform fraud investigations required under the federal voucher program,” said Assistant City Attorney Noel Doran. “This was a common arrangement in Los Angeles County at the time with cities such as Paramount, Bellflower, and Lancaster providing similar assistance. The City of Palmdale was particularly surprised to be included in the DOJ’s investigation because in 2007, the DOJ itself had provided almost $1.3 million to the Indianapolis Housing Authority to, in part, fund investigators to root out fraud and criminal activity in Section 8 housing. Palmdale is happy to resolve this five year investigation on financial terms that are commensurate with our involvement in the Section 8 program – namely zero.”
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Previous related stories:
County settles Section 8 discrimination allegations
Monitoring team for Sheriff’s department introduced to AV community
Sheriff’s Department, DOJ settle AV civil rights case
DOJ alleges racial discrimination in Antelope Valley
Ryan says
I live in a area(West Side) near 3oth and L, We have 5 Section 8 homes in 4 square blocks none work all the homes are in bad shape and just plain eyesores, I asked one tenant why they don’t find a way to start working or at least try to take care of her home. Simply did not care they feel entitled. I work 10 hour days as I leave the 2 year old Dodge sits in the driveway, when I return it has not moved I do 50 hour weeks and drive a 15 year old car just to keep a float. People you better wake up WE ARE PAYING FOR THIS
William says
Remember this, Ryan. The government money i.e. your taxes, goes directly to the landlords of those investments, er, I mean Section 8 homes.
Why don’t republicans complain about that? I suspect it’s because they are the majority of those landlords whether private owners or developers.
How ’bout that? Lancaster is very conservative so it’s likely that most of the Section 8 homes for rent in Lancaster are owned by republicans/conservatives/tea partiers. They just want to point the fingers at the fraudsters to distract.
Any questions?
How come Claire and Lady Liberty don’t go after those landlords who are getting the tax dollars for their investments? It’s because they are so clueless it must hurt.
You know if the majority of Section 8 landlords turned out to be ‘libruls’, the republicans and fox ‘news’ would be screaming. But, they’re not screaming. Why not?
Claire says
Fraud in government programs is costing billions of dollars annually. Huge sums of money are lost each year because of dishonesty and corruption. Wrongful acts of criminals should not deprive honest people of benefits they genuinely need. And all you do is make petty comments that are completely irrelevant about two women that have different opinions than yours.
Tim Scott says
How did you let so many other crybabies get ahead of you Ryan? This line of whah-whah-whah has already been thoroughly covered at least twice.
Not an idiot says
The liberals utopian dream, everyone depends on the federal government for everything in their existence. Section 8, welfare, food stamps, medical coverage, planned parenthood, free phones just to name a few. Democrats equals socialism. This country needs to wake up!
oyuki says
people on section 8 are a big issue they are loud and cause to many problems in every neighborhood they should make them work and not get the easy way they dont respect anyone they dont work and freeload on everything from government and thats why they are always loud and causing drama get rid of this crap we are tired of section 8
Tim Scott says
Do you have anything to back this up, or are you just parroting the same hate filled rhetoric that the mayor spewed to generate this expense in the first place?
Claire says
Your hate filled rhetoric is just different than the other commenter.
Lancaster Voter says
So am I to believe that by saying “it’s time to go to war” with Section 8 that those are words of love?
Lancaster Voter says
Apparently Parris felt the same way which is why he declared war on Section 8 which was really strange considering it is a federal program. All it did was bring the Department of Justice here and cost the taxpayers millions. Nothing new for him and his mouth.
soapbox superman says
it had to be done by the law…they did what was required…
this is not a frivolous lawsuit…
the victims are corresponding voucher holders that were treated like criminals…they were categorized and then preyed upon…
their only wrongdoing was being in the wrong place at the wrong time…they were uprooted and cast aside…
only for a minute…and as long as it seemed now they will have their day…as they get their apology and a little bit of dignity back…
as for the others that were the basis of the initial operation to seek out the wrong doers…hopefully they were caught and released from the sectional system…those people that abused a system created for them…yet refused to follow principles that should not have to be enforced…yet proceeded with a sense of entitlement to a program that was initially created to help…treated as weak and taken advantage of…those are the people that should have been revoked…
and the people that regarded the rules and regulations and were indeed within the guidelines can now return to their homes…hopefully they were not displaced or shifted away from resources that they were lacking in the first place..which had them as part of the program in the first place…
the people that took advantage…caused the people that didn’t to lose any advantage…I can only hope that this whole action got something right..
native says
People keep saying minorities.
mi·nor·i·ty
noun
1.
the smaller number or part, especially a number that is less than half the whole number.
If this was a case involving the smaller numbers of people abusing the system, then why are whites the minority now, and why are there so many other races that claim that status, yet accumulate such high concentrations of state funds by way of shear numbers?! I say cut the system! I never needed a free house, i works my arse of for what i have.
desiree says
I refuse to live on the West side because of all the Section 8 housing. My home may be 50 years old but I have been so fortunate to have great neighbors – no one on Section 8 wants to move into these old homes as they prefer the newer 4-5 bedroom and 2-3 bathroom homes. I have lived in my neighborhood for 20 years and never had an issue.
William says
I repeat. The real freeloaders in the Section 8 program are the landlords.
They get the money not the voucher holders.
They don’t have to rent their ‘investments’ on the open market but instead get a guaranteed rental payment while the neighbors get the problems.
Going after the tenants that cause problems is a distraction from the people who silently cash the rental checks.
Consider that the republicans/tea partiers/conservatives want to cut food stamps, health care for the poor and many other essentials but don’t ever try to cut back the Section 8 program. One would think that they’d be howling about subsidizing a landlord renting a 3,000 sq. ft. house with POOL, but I’ve never heard a peep from them about that. Why not?
Methinks that the majority of Section 8 landlords here and elsewhere have a picture of Reagan over their fireplace mantels. It would be interesting to know who owns Section 8 property in the Antelope Valley, if that information is publicly available.
Public servant says
William, I believe your brain is as fried as crazy Pelosi. The republicans want to cut a lot of the welfare programs so people would actually go out and look for work. Welfare was originally set up as temporary help for families in need. But because of the Liberals it is now used by several generations as their way of income. It is a way of life for them. Section 8 is severely abused by people who know how to cheat the system. Under Obama more people are on pubic assistance than ever in our history. We now live in a “what can you do for me” generation. The more you give them the more they want. People need to take care of themselves and stop expecting the government to do it.
Elizabeth says
You know Rex was behind all this as he is not the one suing. If he wouldn’t have had anything to do with it all, he’d be the first person calling foul so he could make more money off the government. Talk about taking advantage of taxpayers money! He is the king of doing it!
General Sherman says
It was Rex who declared war on Section 8 and dragged the entire valley into this mess. As they say, “War is hell.”
William says
It was also rex who said that he welcomed Section 8 voucher holders to occupy the vacant homes around Lancaster from the bust a few years ago.
You recall how lawyers are trained to argue both sides of a case. Well, rex does that with everything in life.
Apparently, rex has 2 mouths to feed. Both his.
HUD says
President Obama, Secretary Castro announce initiative to extend high speed broadband access for students in HUD assisted housing in Fresno and Los Angeles.
Tim Scott says
Fortunately for him, he also has two feet to work with.
Cali Palmdale says
Cant Believe it they get free money and they want more F+++n free loaders the sec 8 should be eliminated or just to people who really need it random drug tests check to see they don’t have 20 people living at a home and if you have never worked in your life like most on sec 8 then no help for you must have earned the help. And Hood Rats that just have kids to get free housing that should be changed also. And if they get the help there should be rules keep homes presentable no noise they must live like real people not like animals respect the neighbors and neighborhood. WHY CAN WE SUE THE SEC8 FOR MAKING OUR NEIGHBORHOOD LOOK LIKE A DUMP NOISE AND ALWAYS SEEING YOUNG MEN WITH HALF THERE A++ OUT OF THERE PANTS INDECENT EXPOUSURE.
Tim Scott says
I think people should have to pass a test to see if they are an intolerant jerk before they can qualify for a government subsidized and guaranteed home loan. Think how much better your neighbor’s neighborhood would be then!
Elizabeth says
You are obviously completely ignorant in how the section 8 program works. Most of those loud, unruly, messy neighbors are typical renters. Section 8 has rules in place that enforce keeping the home and property in respectable order. Those who do not keep their homes up can and will lose their assistance. Those who have more than who is listed on their voucher living in their homes wont just lose their voucher but risk having to pay the program back for monies owed to the program that should not have been paid out.
I think you should know your facts before you speak. Tenants and owners alike can lose the voucher if rules, regulations and the like are not followed. If you have a problem with a neighbor on sec 8, it only takes a phone call to get them out to investigate fraud and IF fraud is found, they’ll lose their voucher and wont be an issue anymore as they’ll have to move. So, instead of demonizing all sec 8 tenants, get your facts straight and then make some phone calls if you are so certain its a sec 8 tenant.
Stinger says
Thank you, Elizabeth! The truth is that there is no more crime emanating from Section 8 housing as there are from any other rentals… In fact, it is just a slight bit lower for Section 8 rentals.
Parris, and his cronies, KNOW this to be true, but they continue to BS the community with hate speech about it because it gets them votes.
William says
Elizabeth, since you appear knowledgeable about the Section 8 program, is it farily typical for the landlords to lose their ability to rent to Section 8 voucher holders? Or, do they often just get a pass.
How strict are the rules requiring landlords to make sure that tenants are taking care of the property including the exterior yards. Are landlords notified every time a neighbor calls in a complaint to the sheriff’s department?
If those regulations were strictly enforced and landlords lost their approval to rent to Section 8, it would seem to go a long way to limiting the problem tenants. Yet, that doesn’t appear to be the case given all the complaints here and elsewhere in the media.
Left to law enforcement, it has resulted in problems of their own such as the lawsuit in Lancaster and Palmdale.
I do have a bias against the landlords who don’t manage their properties well since they are the ones that actually get the government (read our tax payer dollars) checks each month but the focus is on the tenants; both good deserving tenants and the worst ones which results in the landlords being left off the hook as far as the public is concerned.
Even good tenants get painted with a broad brush from the bad and even criminal activities of the worst tenants which isn’t fair to them.
BTW. While I don’t know if there are any Section 8 tenants in my neighborhood, who would I call with a complaint such as a messy yard but not a criminal activity where I would call the sheriff’s department instead? Years ago, I tried to learn if a particular house nearby was Section 8 but was told that they can’t provide that information.
Thanks if you are able to answer any of my questions.
BummerForAmerica says
Soooo sick of the section 8 low life’s around me! I live on the west side and some brilliant person decided to “integrate” the scum from East side into and next to higher end housing neighborhoods so we could have noise, confusion and crime in our neighborhoods, too. Brilliant. So we are now blessed with arguments in the streets, frequent bouts of police descending on the low income apartments a half block away, loud teenage chatter late into the night up n down the street, parties that are EXTREMELY LOUD and last late into the night, mid-day burglaries, cars roaring through the neighborhood with music blaring…and these people can live in a home similar to mine, valued at ???, paying ~$300/mo two doors from mine valued at $350k with a $2050/mo mortgage payment?
As soon as I am able to, I am moving out of here, my beloved Antelope Valley–which has forever changed.
:-/
Gross Domestic Product says
Oh. West sider. Not used to the other half of the tracks? Guess what? East side has nice neighborhoods as well! But the same is everywhere, not just your slice of Mayberry! You have so much mortgage. Then move to an area that can suit your needs! Try Pierce County Wa! Nothing but Caucasians. You know who commits the crime, THE CAUCASIANS! Welcome to reality! Either get a gun and wait for them to enter your house illegally, or understand that the system favors those who don’t have to work endless hours at Boeing to make ends meet!!!
Here’s the hand shake. Take a number. Join the club.
Elizabeth says
If you honestly think its a sec 8 tenant, why not call section 8 and make a report. I bet you’ll find out its not a sec 8 tenant. Most sec 8 tenants have too much to lose to cause issues like that.
And I’d just like to point out how much I love that you just lumped the entire east side into your little rant. Way to go showing your prejudice!!
Irene says
I suggest starting a neighborhood watch and get the neighbors involved in what’s going on in your neighborhood the program really helps and don’t hesitate to call the sheriffs department and report the noise and nuisance violections that are being committed.
AV Eye in the Sky says
Let us never forget what transpired on June 10, 2008 at the Lancaster City Council meeting which started this firestorm. The all-knowing, all-pontificating Parris declared, “It’s time to go to war” at the 1:01:56 mark.
http://lancaster.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=176
Stinger says
Yep. Looks like, once again, Parris’ mouth exceeded his legal knowledge regarding what he was talking about and cost the taxpayers yet more millions of dollars for stupid political posturing.
Native says
Size 10 cowboy boots right to the wallet! Then into his own mouth!
theodora says
I need legal representation on a contingency
dumbandblind says
You want everything for free looks like!
Tired of the fraud people do says
This is wrong I understand given back some people there vouchers because yes some were discriminated against discrimination in Antelope Valley is very prevalent especially against minorities however I know for a fact there are tons of families that use the section 8 voucher system for fraud they have drug houses in the house is that they’re supposed to be using the section 8 for I know people that say they have babies living there when they don’t but when section 8 comes in and specs they broke ribs and baby clothes and furniture to make it look like the children are living there there needs to be stricter policies stricter fraud department that actually go through case by case and really really check these out because you have people that are getting away with so much crap while there are real real real people in need that are not getting the help they deserve because you have lifetime section 8 members that will see their grandbabies living with them so they can’t give up their section 8 the welfare system was brought into play to help people but over the years people have been using it as a crutch I know women and men that have never had a job because they live on welfare and they do side scan because it’s easy what about making it a requirement not only for drug testing but making men and women get their high school diploma or GED and then making them complete a trade school give him a job it doesn’t even have to be paying just so they can get their monthly section 8 or their monthly cash aid put them in the county city state position just to get 6 months of work experience so they can go out there and get a job get a better job support themselves give back to the economy give back to the programs that have been supporting them all this time there is no quick fix we all need to work together we all need to be accountable not just the bureaucrats that are setting up these programs are running the programs but the people that are taking advantage of the program they need to be held accountable hold yourself accountable
Tim Scott says
Why are you crying about how section 8 recipients should be held accountable and crying about the county being held accountable in the same comment? Are you for accountability, or against it?
Adam says
What I don’t get about long time residents of the AV is their claim that section 8 ruined it. If the residents actually kept up with their own affairs the city wouldn’t be reduced to owners needing to rent to Section 8. Obviously they need better jobs themselves if they can’t afford to keep their property value high enough to prevent it from needing the government to patch it up.
You people act like this place was Berkeley and then black people and section 8 destroyed it over night. Long before I moved to the AV I dreaded coming because I was told this place had nothing to offer other than being a slightly less worse version of Cal city. Despite the diversity, many of the residents are backwards and racist and are the heart of why this place seems so stubborn when it comes to growth. It mmm makes no sense that this place has so little, which reflects more on the long time residents than the new ones. Its why all the kids just end up on and pregnant, because the old people refuse to build as anything for the future. Meanwhile Lancaster blvd is almost exclusively stores no one wants to shop at smh.
theodora says
I need legal representation on a contingency
Hand Solo says
Try Gofundme.
Jackie Obarr says
Is this the result of the Mayor’s boycott to Section 8 applicants? No one should be discriminated against, there are many who will be eliminated from affordable housing.
Tim Scott says
MORE of the still accumulating results. I haven’t been keeping track but I’m sure we passed five million dollars and I think we are approaching ten million.
Stinger says
No, Tim, you can thank the politicians who were behind this untruthful campaign against Section 8 being criminals. The sheriffs were ordered to accompany the city paid for inspectors.
The correct way to put it would be: “And another chunk of change gone from the county AND CITY treasuries. Thanks Rex!”
Tim Scott says
The deputies who are tasked with law ENFORCEMENT had every opportunity to do so. Or at the very least point out the illegal actions and not participate in them. Instead they opted for “Home invasions? Hell YEAH!!! Lemme get my gear!”
“Ignorance of the law is no excuse” weighs ten times heavier against people who are being well paid to supposedly ENFORCE it.
Tim Scott says
By the way, looks like where you said “city treasuries” you should say “city treasury.” Palmdale is not required to pay for Rex’s transgressions.
Tricia says
For starters…it kind of is discrimination because the list to even apply for section 8 is closed. Has been for over 2 years.
two it is really tough to get any kind of government assistance when your the wrong color…
I should know…been there, done that…
Tim Scott says
And another chunk of change gone from the county treasury. Thanks sheriff’s department!