The Justice Department issued the following statement.
The Department of Justice announced today that it has filed a lawsuit alleging that the owners, operators and rental agent of several apartment complexes in Pearl, Mississippi, violated the Fair Housing Act by discriminating against African Americans based on their race.
The department’s complaint seeks relief against three owners and operators of the properties — SSM Properties LLC; Steven Maulding; and Sheila Maulding — as well as James Roe, who acted as a rental agent for the apartment complexes on behalf of the other defendants. The lawsuit is based on the results of testing conducted by the Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center and a Charge of Discrimination issued by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”). Testing is a simulation of a housing transaction that compares responses given by housing providers to different types of home-seekers to determine whether or not illegal discrimination is occurring.
The department’s complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, alleges that Roe discriminated against prospective renters on the basis of race by treating African Americans who inquired about available apartments differently and less favorably than similarly-situated white persons. The properties are:
- Oak Manor Apartments, located at 2592 Old Country Club Road, Pearl, Miss.;
- Pearl Manor Apartments, located at 200 George Wallace Drive, Pearl, Miss.; and
- 468 Place Townhomes, located at 2932-34 State Highway 468, Pearl, Miss.
“More than a half century ago, Congress enacted the Fair Housing Act to prohibit landlords and others from denying people the opportunity to live where they want because of their race, color, or other protected characteristics,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Civil Rights Division. “Some misguided people unfortunately continue to defy this law by segregating and excluding people because of their skin color. This uncivilized and cruel discrimination hurts people; it must end, now, and the Department of Justice is determined to put a stop to it. All Americans should be free to live anywhere in the United States without regard to the color of their skin. No one’s housing choices should be limited because of race or color or by more subtle differences in the way home-seekers are treated when they ask about available properties. This department is committed to ensuring equal housing opportunities, regardless of race, including by using fair-housing testing to uncover hidden discrimination that might otherwise go undetected.”
“Treating people differently in housing based on the color of their skin is not only morally and ethically reprehensible and incompatible with American principles, but against federal law,” said U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst of the Southern District of Mississippi. “We in the Department of Justice will always strive to ensure that justice is done and that people are treated equitably and fairly, especially when seeking and trying to access such an essential cornerstone of a free society as housing. This lawsuit is just one more step up the long staircase of liberty and justice for all.”
“A person’s race should not be a factor when searching for a place to call home,” said Anna María Farías, HUD’s Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. “HUD applauds today’s action and remains committed to working with the Justice Department to take appropriate action whenever the nation’s fair housing laws are violated.”
According to the department’s complaint, Roe encouraged white testers to rent at Pearl Manor Apartments but discouraged African-American testers from renting there, telling one African-American tester that if he rented to her at this complex, the residents would think he had “let the zoo out.” In addition, Roe told African-American testers about fewer rental units than white testers, allowed white testers to view certain apartments while not offering or allowing African-American testers the same opportunity, and imposed more stringent financial and employment criteria and inquiries on African-American testers than on white testers. The lawsuit alleges that SSM Properties and Steven and Sheila Maulding are legally responsible for Roe’s alleged discrimination because he worked as their rental agent.
Today’s lawsuit seeks monetary damages to compensate victims, civil penalties against the defendants to vindicate the public interest, and a court order barring future discrimination.
Individuals who believe they or someone they know may have been discriminated against at any of these properties should contact the department toll-free at 1-833-591-0291 or by email at fairhousing@usdoj.gov. Individuals who have information about this or another matter involving alleged discrimination may submit a report online at civilrights.justice.gov.
The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin and disability. More information about the Civil Rights Division and the civil rights laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt. The complaint contains allegations of unlawful conduct. The allegations in the complaint must be proven in court.
35 comments:
Yeah imagine not wanting your property to become like all of the crime infested shooting ranges they call apartments in Jackson. Now imagine the "land of the free" charging you with a crime for wanting to protect your investment.
I almost moved to Pearl recently and checked out every apartment complex within the city limits. Two of those apartments mentioned are entirely filled with undocumented hispanics.
Fox Run in Pearl doesn't discriminate and the houses surrounding it have bars on the windows. Literally saw chicken bones as litter all over the parking lot at Fox Run. I noped out. Ended up mpving to Flowood onstead.
The feds won't be happy until white children are hit with stray bullets in their bedrooms as often as black children.
Expect to see more of this under a Biden admistration. Biden has already said he's gonna resume Obama's policy to put housing projects in the suburbs.
Take ride around Jackson and look at some of the lower income apartments....
Because of their skin color? Nope. Your missing the real reason.
Your property rights end where some section 8 welfare recipient's hurt feelings begin.
the civil division of the united states department of justice is the biggest and most powerful plaintiffs law firm in the country.........no matter what that fat irishman at morgan and morgan says
A business on George Wallace Drive is engaged in race discrimination. Oh, the irony.
Apartment buildings used to be nice places to live, primarily for young folks starting out. Then along came HUD and Open Borders and everything turned into pumpkins one evening at midnight.
39211 is ruined. I guess Pearl is next.
I guess the reason the laws are on the books is because obviously from the previous comments discrimination is condoned in Mississippi.
I thing this is probably a put up suit. Part of this racial madness sweeping the country.
If you want to talk about bad tenants, let me help you out.
The absolute worst Tennant in the world possesses some of these traits:
1) He tells you how active he is in his church.
2) He just moved here and started a new job (confirmed by out of state plates).
3) He can't provide his past landlord's contact info.
4) His cell phone number starts with an out of state area code.
5) He has 4 cars (2 don't run, but all they need is a "little work").
6) He is white and promises he will pay on time.
7) He tells you he makes a lot of money.
It ends about 6 weeks later when he says his boss was an asshole and he is now moving "back home".
He leaves your driveway stained with oil, the house full of trash, the yard is destroyed and your painter gets to redo everything.
White trash is your worst tennants. The problem with the other tenants is generally not them, it's the ones that come to visit that bring the problems.
8:19 but those new luxury apartments at Colonial...
I knew the commenters here would find a way my to blame Biden
Roll tide
Many of the comments here are as flagrantly racist as the actions described. What is wrong with people? Even the nicest neighborhoods throughout our community have black families. Bridgewater, Reunion, even Eastover all are home to black families. How could an apartment in Pearl, of all places, have anymore to worry about. Stop dragging your knuckles and step into the light. The dark ages are over.
10:32 Do you like reading this site?
Being PC will destroy your business. When they graduate Section 8 to a non-Section 8 apartment, they bring their "trash the place" ways with them.
Maulding has been taking advantage of the illegals for years. I understand he would charge each one and put ten in an apartment. When the city made changes so he couldn't do that anymore he went after the administration. Well Steve all the money you made is about to go out the window.
@ 9:39 AM
Jackson is currently at #116. How many of your described tenants are involved in those numbers?
Darn facts.
KF, it's a shame you allow some of these crap comments. The article said nothing about low income or section 8, but your commenters jumped on those 2 topics immediately.
@12:38
Some of us are familiar with the properties named. They are all low rent shitholes.
12:38 If you can't reason the relevance, your critical thinking is limited.
It’s so sad to see the people in Madison try to feel better about themselves by trashing Jackson. To each him own. But I’ve never desired a fake stucco house in the middle of pasture land.
Pitty-Pander once again shows his panty-waist proclivity toward pacification of illegals and recalcitrants. If he's not a priest or operating a soup kitchen, he's fooled me.
Ha, Pearl!
There are people who want to live in Pearl?
Amazing!
10:54 - The only place I see 'black' mentioned is in YOUR post.
Pearl = Jacktown light
What's the WORST thing between Jackson and Brandon? Pearl! What's the BEST thing between Jackson and Brandon? Pearl!
I'm curious why the Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center is conducting "testing" in Mississippi. Surely, they have enough work to do in their own back yard.
We need a mediator to settle this argument, assess penalties and arrive at damages regarding the apartment dust-up. We need someone with experience. I recommend Gene McGee.
" blame Biden "
" I recommend Gene McGee"
These comments are funnier than the 1975 season of Saturday Night Live.
@12:04
If you look up "Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center" you will find that they are not a government agency. They are uppity trouble makers with nothing better to do than play race crusader.
The rhetorical "wink and nod" method of hiding one's bigotry has become an art in Mississippi 10:54. Jackson is becoming a de facto township ghetto to the delight of the descendants of the state's White Citizens Councils.
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