WASHINGTON – A record 10,552 fair housing discrimination complaints were filed in fiscal year 2008, according to a report just released by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The report, which is produced for Congress each year, shows that a large portion of the complaints, 44 percent, were filed by persons with disabilities. Thirty-five percent, or 3,699, of the complaints alleged discrimination based on race.

“Despite progress, housing discrimination continues in America. We must put a stop to it and stand up for anyone who is unlawfully denied a home of their own,” said John Trasviña, HUD Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. “Fighting against housing discrimination and affirmatively furthering fair housing are twin priorities of HUD and the Obama Administration.”

The report describes HUD’s enforcement activities that resulted in housing and monetary relief for individuals subjected to illegal discrimination, as well as fines and required education for entities charged with discrimination. For example, HUD obtained:

• A loan modification for a Hispanic couple that included forgiveness of the entire amount of the second loan, approximately $75,000; provision of a 5 percent fixed interest-rate mortgage; and waiver of all closing costs, points, and fees associated with the loan modification.
• A $20,000 settlement for a mother who was denied the opportunity to rent a house because she had a child.
• A $40,000 settlement for a family with a disability that was denied a reasonable accommodation for their child. In addition, $2,500 was donated to an autism group and another $2,500 to an early childhood development center.

In addition, the report also shows the importance of the partnership between HUD and its FHIPs, private fair housing groups and FHAPs, state and local agencies. “HUD has an array of weapons to combat housing discrimination,” said Trasviña. “Most important are the partnerships with state, local and other agencies, private fair housing organizations and responsible industry officials who, together with HUD are on the front lines to advance fair housing and fair lending policies.”

People who believe they are the victims of housing discrimination should contact HUD at 1-800-669-9777 (voice), 800-927-9275 (TTY). Additional information is available at www.hud.gov/fairhousing.

About the Department of Housing and Urban Development

HUD is the nation’s housing agency committed to sustaining homeownership; creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans; and supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and people living with AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development and enforces the nation’s fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov.

Issues as diverse as domestic abuse, elder care, special education, housing discrimination, rental disputes, salary garnishment and more are addressed at the Legal Aid Society. There is an income-level determination that restricts who may receive services, but every effort is made to provide some level of assistance, even if that is just a referral to a local government entity, organization or attorney. Many free self-help brochures are available for downloading on the Legal Aid Society website (www.las.org).

By entering the quaint little doorway at 120 Franklin Street, many individuals have become clients of the Legal Aid Society. The office recently lost its longtime managing attorney when Attorney Patricia Mock accepted a law school teaching position in Michigan. Staff attorney Kevin Fowler was promoted to managing attorney last month. The Clarksville Office also has the services of paralegals, and victim advocates.

Due to funding restrictions, the staffing of this office is limited. At least two more full-time attorneys and paralegals are needed to bring the office to its desired manpower level. While the Legal Services Corporation does provide some funding, the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands is largely dependent upon grants and donations for its survival. With the recent downturn in the economy and the ever-widening fallout from the upheavals in the financial markets, those traditional revenue sources may be unable to provide their regular support in 2009.

The Legal Aid Society is an IRS certified 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization providing legal advice and service to economically challenged individuals. The organization is facing a considerable shortfall in its funding coffers while at the same time seeing an increase in the need for its services. Private donations are readily accepted and would be greatly appreciated.  Send submissions to: Legal Aid Society, Attn: Donations, 120 Franklin Street, Clarksville, TN 37040; or 300 Deaderick Street, Nashville, TN 37201.

In 2007, the Legal Aid Society helped more than 7,000 Middle Tennesseans find justice when they had nowhere else to turn. As a result, women were protected from abusive husbands, people still had roofs over their heads and the sick got the medical care they needed, among the many other benefits received by Middle Tennessee’s most vulnerable citizens. Like the miracle of the loaves and fishes, the Legal Aid Society was able to make a little go a long way in meeting these needs – basically delivering $2 in benefits for every $1 it received. The $5,761,160 it spent in 2007 generated $11,096,830 in benefits.

“Thanks to an incredibly committed staff and outstanding volunteer efforts by private attorneys in the communities we serve, we were able to make very efficient use of our funds in 2007 to serve the maximum number of people. It gives you a good feeling to look back on how the Middle Tennessee community really made a difference in 2007.”

– Gary Housepian, Legal Aid Society Executive Director

Good stewardship is just one aspect of the Legal Aid Society’s success in 2007. It was also immensely effective – 97 percent of the cases it closed last year had a positive outcome. This measure of effectiveness is among many others included in the organization’s recently released 2007 annual report.

A copy of the report is available at any of the Legal Aid Society’s eight offices throughout Middle Tennessee and on its website (www.las.org). The Clarksville Office serves Montgomery, Houston, Stewart, Robertson and Dickson Counties. It is located at 120 Franklin Street, 931-552-6656. In addition to summing up the monetary and non-monetary benefits received by the Legal Aid Society clients, the report chronicles several key cases the state’s largest non-profit law firm successfully undertook in 2007 – ranging from savings a couple’s home, to rescuing an elderly woman from financial exploitation, to helping a young mother conquer domestic violence.

In total, in 2007, the Legal Aid Society clients received more than $4,390,000 in direct financial benefits as a result of services provided by the organization, including

• $838,543 in federal tax benefits for low-income taxpayers.
• $929,000 in annual social security and associated medical benefits for people with disabilities.
• $904,000 in child and spousal support and other financial awards for low-income victims of domestic violence and their children.
• $475,000 in medical benefits.
  

Free legal advice and representation clients received from staff attorneys during 2007 had a market value of $5,777,800. Pro bono attorney volunteers provided an additional $929,030 in free legal help.

“This is a total of over $11 million in benefits to the people we serve. However, we measure our success not just in dollars, but also in the difference we make in the lives of low income Middle Tennesseans. We provide services for people who are incredibly vulnerable, such as victims of abuse, the sick and elderly and people with disabilities. Without our services, these people would have nowhere to turn.” –

– Gary Housepian, Legal Aid Society Executive Director

Included among the non-monetary benefits were:

• 441 victims of domestic violence and their children obtained protection from their batterers.
• 131 people gained access to needed healthcare services.
• 223 families were able to keep their homes or obtain affordable housing
• 239 people received help with life and healthcare planning.

Middle Tennessee family wrongfully terminated

Mrs. Monroe [not her real name], was already having difficulty when she lost her job and was supporting her family on unemployment insurance. Then she was notified the Tennessee Department of Human Services (DHS) was terminating her family’s Medicaid benefits, the family’s only source of medical care. She called the Legal Aid Society office in Nashville. Attorney Russ Overby researched the situation and found that DHS was relying on a rescinded policy that made it unreasonably difficult for families with unemployment benefits to qualify for Medicaid, even when their income was below the eligibility limit.

Overby wrote DHS and pointed out that its policy violated federal Medicaid law. DHS reviewed the law and their policy and agreed. It restored health benefits to Mrs. Monroe’s family. It also agreed to change its policy. Tennessee now treats unemployment insurance as any other source of income when it determines eligibility for both Medicaid and Families First. As a result, hundreds of low-wage Tennessee workers now have a much fairer chance to critical health and income benefits for their families.

Clarksville Is Fortunate

This story illustrates just one example of the kind of assistance which the Legal Aid Society makes available to qualifying clients. Clarksville is fortunate to have an office conveniently located downtown at 120 Franklin Street. Attorney Pat Mock is the managing attorney of the Clarksville Office. In addition to Medicaid/Medicare access issues, assistance is also available in instances of housing discrimination- including renters rights protection, domestic and/or spousal abuse, elder guardianship, child support and abuse, wage garnishment, school fee waivers, to name a few. In addition to Montgomery County, the Clarksville Legal Aid Society Office also serves the Stewart, Robertson and Chetham County areas.

The Legal Aid Society is a non-profit organization and is not government-funded. The Clarksville Office is part of the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands and the Legal Services Corporation. Contact the Clarksville Legal Aid Society at 931-552-6656.