HUD Charges Virgina Beach Landlord With Violating Fair Housing Act

HUD, May 24, 2007

Owner accused of treating black families worse, using racial slurs

WASHINGTON- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced today that it has charged Dr. James Crockett Henry, owner of a 30-unit complex in Virginia Beach, Virginia, with violating the Fair Housing Act for allegedly subjecting African-American tenants to stricter rules than others, using racial slurs about them, and retaliating against them. The Fair Housing Act makes it illegal to discriminate in housing because of race or color.

The charge comes after a complaint was filed with HUD by Annette and Tasha Reddick and several other African-American families, who alleged that Dr. Henry discouraged black residents from having visitors, and reported their visitors to police as trespassers. The complaint further alleges that he enforced a "quiet time" policy for black residents and used racial slurs, including the "N" word, to describe the children of African-American residents. Henry also allegedly told one black tenant that the complex, comprised mostly of black families, was like his "ghetto tribe plantation," and that if she would "act like a human being" he "wouldn't have to train her."

In addition, when told that some black residents had filed housing discrimination complaints, Henry took steps to terminate their leases, citing allegedly false lease violations, such as illegal drug activity.

For the rest of this article please visit www.HUD.gov.