Lisa A. Kelly, Esq.
3 Considerations for Complainants of Housing Discrimination to Consider
Forest Of The Rain Productions reached out to Lisa A. Kelly, Esq.a Civil Rights Officer at the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights to discuss Important facts about housing discrimination we need to know.
3 Considerations for Complainants of Housing Discrimination to Consider (Part 1)
Complainants can help themselves a great deal by keeping in mind the following considerations when initiating a complaint of housing discrimination against their housing provider:
1. Be CLEAR about your request.
● Federal,state, and local laws allow tenants to verbally request reasonable accommodations. Sometimes, however, both parties walk away from a conversation thinking different things. Always follow up your request in writing. A short email summarizing why you need a reasonable accommodation is easier to produce than an uncooperative witness.
2. COMMUNICATE your issues.
● If you are experiencing harassment, coercion, or an otherwise hostile living environment because of your protected class or classes, contact your Property Manager. Make sure he or she knows what happened, who was involved, and why you think it happened, i.e., your protected class status. Always contact a third party as well, such as your local police, to obtain advice and documentation of the contact. Again, documentation is key.
3. Look for COMPARABLES.
● Many housing discrimination investigations compare the treatment of similarly situated tenants not of your protected class against your alleged adverse treatment. This information can be considered good support in a charge of discrimination, for either party. Keep in mind that your comparables must be “similarly situated,” which generally means they rent the same number of bedrooms, pay approximately the same amount of rent, and have a similar rental history with the housing provider as yourself.
Stay tuned for “3 Reminders for Respondents.”
Bio: Lisa A. Kelly is a Civil Rights Officer at the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights where she investigates complaints of discrimination in housing, employment, and public accommodation.Before her employment with the Commission on Civil Rights, she was a Fair Housing Compliance Officer and Program Manager at Baltimore Neighborhoods, Inc., a local nonprofit organization that promotes justice in housing for all people in the State of Maryland. Mrs. Kelly attended Michigan State University College of Law and graduated with a Juris Doctorate in 2008. She went on to pass the Illinois and District of Columbia bars in 2008 and 2011 respectively. She served as Vice President of the Wolverine Student Bar Association (Black Law Students Association), as well as Clerk for her chapter of Phi Alpha Delta Legal Fraternity International.
3 Considerations for Complainants of Housing Discrimination to Consider (Part 1)
Complainants can help themselves a great deal by keeping in mind the following considerations when initiating a complaint of housing discrimination against their housing provider:
1. Be CLEAR about your request.
● Federal,state, and local laws allow tenants to verbally request reasonable accommodations. Sometimes, however, both parties walk away from a conversation thinking different things. Always follow up your request in writing. A short email summarizing why you need a reasonable accommodation is easier to produce than an uncooperative witness.
2. COMMUNICATE your issues.
● If you are experiencing harassment, coercion, or an otherwise hostile living environment because of your protected class or classes, contact your Property Manager. Make sure he or she knows what happened, who was involved, and why you think it happened, i.e., your protected class status. Always contact a third party as well, such as your local police, to obtain advice and documentation of the contact. Again, documentation is key.
3. Look for COMPARABLES.
● Many housing discrimination investigations compare the treatment of similarly situated tenants not of your protected class against your alleged adverse treatment. This information can be considered good support in a charge of discrimination, for either party. Keep in mind that your comparables must be “similarly situated,” which generally means they rent the same number of bedrooms, pay approximately the same amount of rent, and have a similar rental history with the housing provider as yourself.
Stay tuned for “3 Reminders for Respondents.”
Bio: Lisa A. Kelly is a Civil Rights Officer at the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights where she investigates complaints of discrimination in housing, employment, and public accommodation.Before her employment with the Commission on Civil Rights, she was a Fair Housing Compliance Officer and Program Manager at Baltimore Neighborhoods, Inc., a local nonprofit organization that promotes justice in housing for all people in the State of Maryland. Mrs. Kelly attended Michigan State University College of Law and graduated with a Juris Doctorate in 2008. She went on to pass the Illinois and District of Columbia bars in 2008 and 2011 respectively. She served as Vice President of the Wolverine Student Bar Association (Black Law Students Association), as well as Clerk for her chapter of Phi Alpha Delta Legal Fraternity International.