NEWS RELEASE: BOLI Secures $50,000 in Albany Fair Housing Case

[Estabrook Bob]

[cid:image003.png at 01CD8107.2AA2D100]

Commissioner Brad Avakian
Bureau of Labor & Industries


Press Release
For Immediate Distribution
August 22, 2012
CONTACT: Bob Estabrook, 503-709-0730

BOLI Secures $50,000 in Albany Fair Housing Case
Landlord attempted to charge a fee to accommodate a disabled woman's cat

ALBANY- The Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) has concluded a settlement of unlawful discrimination charges against Brookshore Apartments in Albany.  BOLI's charges against the property owners alleged attempts to charge a non-refundable "deposit" for allowing a woman with severe depression to keep a companion animal.  The comprehensive settlement agreement includes not only a $50,000 payment, but also policy revisions, training for the respondents' staff and ongoing monitoring by the state Civil Rights Division at BOLI.

"BOLI takes our responsibility to enforce state and federal fair housing law very seriously," said Brad Avakian, Oregon Labor and Industries Commissioner and chief of BOLI.  "It is especially alarming when housing providers are not making reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.  These comprehensive settlement terms are a testament to our commitment to protect equal housing access for all Oregonians."

In addition to investigating and prosecuting potential violations of fair housing law, BOLI provides training to landlords and other housing professionals to promote compliance with the law before enforcement action is necessary.  Brookshore Apartments and parent company Albany Properties are required by the settlement agreement to obtain annual training for employees as well as reporting to BOLI about every disability accommodation request received and how it's resolved for a period of two years.

"This case was ready for prosecution," Avakian continued.  "When BOLI gets ready to bring a case like this to court, it's essential to have the formidable legal representation that the Oregon Department of Justice provides us.  BOLI investigates more than 100 fair housing complaints every year from around the state, bringing tens of thousands of dollars as well as other remedies to harmed individuals."

Visit www.oregon.gov/BOLI<http://www.oregon.gov/BOLI> for more information about all of BOLI's work to protect employment rights, advance employment opportunities, and protect access to housing and public accommodations free from discrimination.


######



The mission of the Bureau of Labor and Industries is to protect employment rights, advance employment opportunities, and protect access to housing and public accommodations free from discrimination.



-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://omls.oregon.gov/pipermail/boli_media/attachments/20120823/9b7092a8/attachment.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image003.png
Type: image/png
Size: 11416 bytes
Desc: image003.png
URL: <https://omls.oregon.gov/pipermail/boli_media/attachments/20120823/9b7092a8/attachment.png>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: 08.22.12_BOLI_Release_-_Albany_Housing_Settlement.pdf
Type: application/pdf
Size: 28693 bytes
Desc: 08.22.12_BOLI_Release_-_Albany_Housing_Settlement.pdf
URL: <https://omls.oregon.gov/pipermail/boli_media/attachments/20120823/9b7092a8/attachment.pdf>