LITTLEROCK – Representatives from the Department of Justice held a community meeting at the Living Stone Cathedral of Worship in Littlerock on Wednesday to notify Section 8 voucher holders in the Antelope Valley that they may be eligible for monetary relief as part of the recent $2.7 million housing discrimination settlement.
Only a handful of people attended the information session, so DOJ representatives stressed the importance of spreading the word to others in the community to participate in future interviews that seek to qualify individuals for possible compensation.
According to Katie Ladewski, an attorney with the Civil Rights Division for U.S. Department of Justice, the housing-related settlement includes a total of $2,675,000 that stems from two different lawsuits – one with the County of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department; and the other with the Housing Authority of the County of Los Angeles (HACoLA) and the cities of Lancaster and Palmdale.
“The Fair Housing Act includes the provision to provide monetary relief to people who are victims of housing discrimination – which is something we sought in the settlement,” Ladewski told locals at Wednesday’s meeting. “And that will be distributed to people who meet certain criteria.”
She said the monetary compensation is available to past and current voucher holders, who may also qualify for housing expungements to remove past terminations from the Section 8 program.
The DOJ has negotiated, as part of the settlement, the ability to reinstate voucher holder families terminated from the program. (Read more on the settlement agreement here.)
Ladewski outlined the general criteria for receiving monetary compensation from the settlement. To be eligible, Section 8 voucher holders:
- Must be part of an African-American household;
- Must have participated in the Section 8 program between January 2004 and July 2011, while living in Lancaster or Palmdale; and
- Must have experienced a “field compliance check” (that is, a housing inspection to determine if a household was in compliance with Section 8 rules) or received an on-the-spot termination from the housing authority between January 2004 and July 2011.
Ladewski also said that voucher holders may be eligible for additional compensation if the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department participated in their compliance check. The DOJ attorneys cautioned that there are exceptions to the compensation requirements and not everyone who had a compliance check or received an on-the-spot termination will receive compensation.
Carrie Pagnucco, also an attorney with the Civil Rights Division for the DOJ, provided a quick legal overview to participants, saying the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s lawsuit covered issues such as misconduct and unconstitutional policing, while the lawsuit against the Housing Authority and the cities of Lancaster and Palmdale involved an unnecessary enforcement scheme against Section 8 voucher holders.
“We also achieved a number of policy reforms that we are really excited about because we think it will change these institutions and make sure that this kind of discrimination we found in our investigation will not happen to anybody else in the Antelope Valley,” she said.
One of the biggest policy changes is the unannounced compliance checks, according to Pagnucco.
“It targeted African Americans, and the housing authority was not engaging in this kind of conduct anywhere else,” she said. “They’ve already stopped doing it now for a couple of years, and they’ve committed to cease those compliance checks for another six years. They don’t need to arrive at someone’s house unannounced and do these kinds of searches. There are other ways to make sure that voucher holders are following the rules.”
The attorneys told the few people gathered that the DOJ needs to talk with potential candidates for monetary relief by January or February of 2016.
The Justice Department plans to continuing working with local organizations like The Community Action League and the Antelope Valley NAACP to reach as many eligible voucher holders as possible.
“We have spoken to a lot of people previously through our investigation, and we’re reaching back out to those people as well,” Pagnucco said, noting that staff will also work with the housing authority to reach out to individuals via mailing addresses and other contact information.
“Please pass this on to anybody you think would be interested, anyone who may be affected,” she said. “When you’re talking to friends, neighbors, or anyone you come into contact with, please share this information about the relief that is available to individuals.”
The Department of Justice is asking interested participants to contact them as soon as possible by leaving a voicemail message at 1-800-896-7743, mailbox 98, or by emailing their inquiry to fairhousing@usdoj.gov. The department will contact participants to schedule a phone interview.
DOJ attorneys will host another information session Thursday, Sept. 17, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., at the Growing Valley Baptist Church, located at 44818 20th Street West in Lancaster. The information session will be held as part of the Antelope Valley NAACP’s general membership meeting.
–
About the author
Jim Winburn is a Los Angeles area news writer, sharing samples of his work at JimmyNewser.com. –Previous related stories:
Group speaks out on $2 million settlement of Section 8 discrimination case
Housing Authority settles AV Section 8 discrimination case for $2 million
County settles Section 8 discrimination allegations
Monitoring team for Sheriff’s department introduced to AV community
Sheriff’s Department, DOJ settle AV civil rights case
–
[removed] says
so I have to be black? ALL Section eight housing is subject to inspection. So bc Im not black YET had a surprise inspection bc of neighbor complaints I’m not eligible. Well that’s some double standard race baiting bs.
Tim Scott says
The investigation found that while neighbor complaints were the instigating factor in some investigations, there was an active element of “go inspect these black people first” in the scheduling of inspections, even when no specific complaints had been received. That’s the basis of the lawsuit, settlement, and penalties, so unfortunately you have nothing coming.
If you can document that the surprise inspection was conducted improperly (and many of them were) or that the complaint was unfounded (of the “I hate my neighbor so I’ll use the county housing office as a weapon” variety) you may have a case of your own.
Wrecksux says
If you lived in Lancaster under the reign of Paris and you were black and on section 8 you should look into it. Especially after he fired everyone up when he went on the warpath.
Problem_Solved says
Let’s solve the problem. Eliminate Section 8. Stop using the taxpayers’ money for this travesty. Problem solved.
Tim Scott says
When I was paying taxes I was mostly upset that they were being used to pay armed thugs. A little rent assistance program never bothered me. My disgust with law enforcement led me to retire and reduce my income sufficiently to not pay for them. If helping poor people pay rent bothers you so much you have the same option.
William says
The tax money, our tax money, goes to the landlords to pay for their investment properties but the voucher holders get all the blame and grief.
Why is that?
I suspect that is why the Section 8 program hasn’t been touched whle other progrems for the poor have been.
John says
To be eligible for monetary compensation they must have participation in the Section 8 program between January 2004 and July 2011, while living in Lancaster or Palmdale.
How is this R. Rex Parris’ fault? He was elected as Mayor in 2008. The Mayor of Palmdale, Jim Ledford, was elected in 1992. Mayor Ledford had a four year head start.
In April 2012, Mayor Parris said “How can anyone say we are not in a war over how Section 8 is being administered in Los Angeles County?”
Why did he say this? After a little research, I found that Mayor Parris was expressing his disapproval over the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors’ decision to allow probationers and parolees to have access to taxpayer-subsidized Section 8 housing ahead of seniors and the disabled.
After reading this article, I agree with Mayor Parris.
http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2012/04/09/war-over-section-8-lancaster-mayor-blasts-vote-to-expand-benefits-to-parolees/
Anon says
Read the complaint. It is all about Lancaster and Parris’ heavy handed approach, including his selva ration of war. After reading that I realized what a buffoon and racist he really is.
Ray says
I watched his presentation to the LA County Supervisors. He had some stupid slide show showing the Israelites or some ancient group wandering in the desert. After he babbled on about some nonsense about people being sent out to the desert to die, they cut him off. He was and continues to be an embarrassment to Lancaster and the entire Antelope Valley.
AV Observer says
When did Ledford ever declare war on Section 8? Could you post that article? Can’t find it? That’s because it doesn’t exist. There is one person who single handedly—or should we say, single “mouthedly”—brought this front and center.
John says
Sounds like this issue needed to be brought “front and center”. It it wasn’t for Mayor Parris, these discriminatory practices would continue.
Mayor Ledford did not want to “rock the boat” and just let the discrimination silently continue.
Anon says
The only issue that needed to come front and center was the heavy handed tactics of Rex and company, his declaration of War on Section 8, and his subsequent racist tactics including a disgust ing political mailer which called a US military veteran a gang candidate. Perhaps Parris’ distaste for veterans had something to do with it, but the expert from USC was clear in his analysis. You could also consider his extermination of pit bulls as something to raise the eyebrows.
So by being a racist, I guess you could credit him for bringing the matter to light.
Anon says
The only issues that needed to come front and center was his heavy handed tactics, his declaration of War on Section 8, and his subsequent tactics including a disgusting political mailer which called a US military veteran a gang candidate. Perhaps his distaste for veterans had something to do with it, but the expert from USC was clear in his analysis. You could also consider his extermination of pit bulls as something to raise the eyebrows.
So by those loathesome actions I guess you could credit him for bringing the matter to light.
Tim Scott says
That was the most impressive piece of double speak I have seen in a long time.
I’m not sure from the reports that this discrimination was even going on before Imperious Rex stuck his oar into the water. Your implication that somehow we should be grateful to the bigoted maynure of Lancaster for bringing attention to the bigots in the county housing office when they threw in with him is grotesque.
Claire says
This is too sad! Tim the bigot calling others bigots. Pick up the mirror instead of that magnifying glass. Actually Tim, you are the king of double-speak.
Anon says
Well stated Tim Scott.
John says
So they just decided to compensate people all the way back to January 2004? Mayor Ledford was there from day one.
I am grateful that Mayor Parris did not agree with the county Board of Supervisors to allow people on probation and parole to have access to Section 8 vouchers. The county had previously rejected any applicant who was on probation or parole from recieving Section 8 vouchers. The Housing authority has a waiting list of nearly 43,000 applicants for its Secton 8 program. And they expect about 1,200 spots to open up this year.
I did not see any bigotry in Parris’ comments when he said “Some of our hardworking families are going to be hurt and/or murdered as a result of this decision. How can anyone say we are not in a war over how Section 8 is being administered in Los Angeles County?”
I agree with Mayor Parris on this issue and his choice of words. This decision is bad for the county and the Antelope Valley.
Tim Scott says
LOL…look, if you wanna back the maynure and his sending stormtroopers out to kick in doors in his personal war on minorities you are welcome to your position…and your town. I live in Palmdale, and got my parents out of Lancaster over a year ago, so I really have neither the need nor the desire to set foot in the future Rexville California ever again. It’s unfortunate that the county as a whole has to foot the bill when the hammer comes down, but until someone steps up and testifies to connect all the election corruption back to Rex we’re just gonna have to pony up whenever he gets caught.
Tim says
I am sick and tired of having to explain to people that not everyone in the Antelope Valley shares the jaded views of his.
Tim says
If you are looking for his bigotry, John, try reading the complaint. Then take a look at what he sent to his residents regarding an African American candidate which he called the “gang candidate.” Then you can read up on how he defended his appointees who have made anti-Semitic and homophobic statements, an how he supported one of his council for her hate speech. Bigotry? Look no further.
Tim Scott says
I just point out to those people that Lancaster is only one city in the AV, and that people with sense or conscience are jumping the city limits at any and every opportunity…me among them.
John says
Mayor Parris’ personal war against minorities and ordering the sheriff to kick in doors are both untrue and exaggerated comments.
If there was any kicking in of doors, that was going on long before Parris was elected mayor.
Tim Scott says
Have you ever met Imperious Rex in the repugnant flesh?
2008 says
There was never any verbal or physical war on Section 8 or blatant racism from the mayor’s seat until he came into office.
Tim says
You are right John. Lots of mayors declare war on Section 8, call decorated African American veterans “gang candidates”, support commissioners who are homophobes and anti-Semitic, and support council who make hateful remarks against Muslims. It must all be in our heads.
Have another drink of the Rexaid
Tim says
According to the complaint, everything happened after he got into office. Nice try.
Violet says
The billboard should read ‘Parris’ Destroying Lives
Michelle Egberts says
The Law Firm of R Rex Parris “Restoring Lives” billboard post was pilfered off of AV-East Kern Second Chance. After going through a trial against the lying and conniving Mayor Parris and Lee D’Errico and the POS they are and being found “not guilty” in one hour, they do not deserve to be any part of the city council and CJC Commission. I wonder how the heroin junkie relative Laueren Conrad of Lee D’Derricos is doing these days… is she in jail or prison? Also, I wonder if Chairman Derryberry’s secretary got her crime expunged?
Valley Resident says
YOU — of all people — want to talk about LIARS???? That’s rich!
justme says
Why are they seeking people out don’t they have the people discrimated against , isn’t that how this lawsiute came about . Wtf I doubt these people disappeared .its free money
Tim Scott says
The lawsuit established discriminatory practices. The terms of the settlement require compensation to anyone harmed by those practices, not just specified individuals. Pretty standard stuff for cases like this.
Kaching says
I would like to personally thank R. Rex Parris for declaring war on Section 8, bringing the Department of Justice to the Antelope Valley, making national headlines that depicted the AV as a bunch of backwoods racists, and for the nice check forthcoming. He really does restore lives.
bottom and company says
The city or county are huge phony’s when they masquerade as the shield between innocent blacks and wide world of bigotry. As if it would be impossible to ever have a negative experience associating with black America. And if black section 8 residents are are so much fun as neighbors, then why is L.A. expelling it’s own black community 100 miles out of town to live out their days in the desert with the scorpion and lizard as community?
AV mom says
Section 8 should never have happened here.
Rent in the AV was affordable till section 8 started.
Tim Scott says
There are numerous countries around the world that do not provide any rental assistance programs. Choose one and go.
Not an idiot says
Tim Scott, always so nice with your comments to others. Everyone has a right to post what they want on any subject without your hurtful response. Take your own advise. Why don’t you pick another country and go. Do us all a favor.
Tim Scott says
Hey, if they don’t like it here they have the opportunity to leave. What’s so bad about pointing that out?
Timmy Snot says
Section 8 should be limited to apartments, not include houses. Homeowners (in general) have an investment to up keep, where I have lived next to section 8 housing before and they have no investment, and don’t care about the house they are paying $11 for. They know there is about a 6 month process to kick them out, where is the responsibility? They have nothing to loose, but everyone around them are effected by the tenants. Five section 8 neighbors I had to live next to, and every one boasted how they were “playing the system”. THEY DON’T CARE, they have no reason to work. Free phones, free rent, reduced cost for gas, electric, and water, welfare and foodstamps …why would they care about anything or anyone’s house around them? I work for my money , and it gets taken away and given to people who are LAZY. They need to be drug tested to get this, and they need to be monitored if they get MY MONEY. The people who were all targeted were all African American…than thats who took advantage of the system, STOP suing because you don’t like facts!
jabberwolf says
“•Must be part of an African-American household;”
Um Gee –why doesn’t the government just admit it, they think its ok to be racist when it concerns giving an advantage to anyone who is black.
IT ISNT OK TO BE RACIST , YOU RACISTS POS’s !!!
The only people who are discriminating is the government. The reason there is a law suit is that people dont want criminals in their location, not because of color. It just happens to be a high percentage of those on probation but need to stay away from LA city happen to be black. Palmdale and Lancaster seem to be the perfect city that satisfies both conditions of their release!
Quigley says
Well crap….I’ve got the wrong card in my wallet…no cha ching for me!
Justme says
first of all Rx Paris only hired 2 more investigators to investigate public housing because the County of Los Angeles only has 2 and because the ones that were not in compliance lost their section 8 so that makes him a racist for wanting to look out for his city and making sure everybody was in compliance and then these people now are getting money this is what the f*** is wrong with America .they want to be selling drugs out of their house and get caught now they want to complain and bring a lawsuit first of all section 8 is federally funded for anyone that was smoking marijuana or doing drugs or had drugs in their house violated their section 8 and people that have other people that were not on the section 8 living in their house violated the section 8 that’s why they lost it if that simple
Truth says
He’s a racist because of his racist actions. Going to war vs Section 8, attractive g an African American candidate with a racist political mayor, filing a lawsuit that prevented an African American from being seated after an election. That sort of thing.
Jim says
Any money recovered should be used to pay back the county for the money these folks received through the voucher program. Taxpayers paid their rent and now have to pay a penalty because the because there were compliance checks? Ridiculous. Pagnucco, Ladewski. Tell me who is representing the taxpayers? Where is the justice for the folks paying the bills?
LOL says
Most of the reason for this happened in Lancaster, yet they pick a small church on the edge of Littlerock to hold the meeting? Where were the notifications posted….. in the Canadian Press?! How about getting people to the meeting? How many of those people have moved back to metro LA areas?
Puppet says
It was Hearns’ church. How convenient. Former Lancaster mayor. Parrisite.
Lofty says
Does Ron Smith qualify? He’s living in the Artists Lofts, low income housing, even though he’s got a job that pays over $100k a year.
http://www.huduser.org/portal/casestudies/study_1292013_1.html
dizzy one says
Are you kidding me? The ‘compensation’ can only go to house holds of African Americans? Why, when 2 of the section 8 homes ‘raided’ not only had no one of African American race in it, but had single white mothers trying to better their lives for their children by being on the welfare to work programs. But someone called in a untrue ‘tip’ , just to cause trouble. What happens now? Looks like the idea of minority has changed to the whites.
Tim Scott says
In settling a racial discrimination lawsuit it is traditional to compensate the people who were discriminated against. That doesn’t mean that they were the only people mistreated, but they are the ones who brought the suit. It wouldn’t surprise me in the least if a successful suit could be brought on behalf of other recipients of section 8 in Lancaster based on Rex Parris’ very clear position as a class warrior even more than a racist.
Not Surprised says
Only in this great county can you live off the system, victimize the very people that fund your meal ticket via taxation of their hard earned money from legitimate employment, destroy once quiet well maintained neighborhoods with seedy traffic and a talent to destroy the home you live in practically rent free, take advantage of the universal life line utility charity programs, eat great with your abundantly charged EBT card, and burglarize and pilfer your neighbors homes and still be able to call yourself a victim and get compensated for it because the stolen property, parolees, drugs, narcotics and everything else that was always found at a tenants destroyed house when a compliance check was conducted is considered ‘racial profiling’ –
This is some great stuff. An asinine legal loophole that basically grants a bad Section 8 tenant judicial immunity when their neighbors belongings are recovered in the garage of a section 8 home. Sure, they were stolen but since authorities didn’t follow the logical steps of notifying these tenants in advance of an impending compliance check, the oppressed victims didn’t have time to get the evidence out of their houses and instead can use the race card. They live for free and then win the lottery by being compensated when they are inconvenienced and tried to be held accountable for their actions. A disgrace, a shame and a slap in the face to every honest hard working decent person as well as the truly deserving folks who need Section 8 benefits.
This has got to be a bad joke that just get’s worse. Not only is the DOJ offering cash incentives to criminals for being criminals, it appears that the DOJ needs to study up on racial discrimination because in another slap to society, these bonus lottery payments aren’t for any Section 8 ‘victim’ – No, they are reserved just for members of an African American household – SMH – Well I guess 1000’s of residence still might qualify; when 10 unsupervised African American kids are placed out of the cold and into mine and my neighbors homes by DCFS and the Sheriff’s department while they track down their crazed drug addled mother, that pretty much makes the kids part of the household – And the number of times the parolee boyfriends, cousins, friends etc of these households that broke into mine and countless other residents homes, well, I’ll be waiting for my settlement too.
Tim Scott says
I considered picking out a few things to argue with here, but the pity party stream was just too overwhelming to identify any particulars. Try crying your eyes out in shorter bursts.
Claire says
You might also want to consider shortening your pity party streams about the judicial arm of our government. Try crying your eyes out in shorter bursts please.
Tim Scott says
Your comment is one word longer than mine.
In short WTF are you on about now Claire?
Try making sense for a change, it might surprise you…and would certainly surprise the rest of us.
Joey B says
Not Surprised
I agree with you 100%. Section 8 is a joke. There is so much fraud and cheating with the some of the recipients but the DOJ is more interested in handing out money for racial discrimination which in a lot of the cases is bogus. The DOJ seems to turn a blind eye to all of the violations that are happening by the recipients in section 8. Someone in our government needs to take over and clean house.
Tim Scott says
Would you prefer a military coup or just the usual “temporary” suspension of representative government “until the crisis has been resolved”?