CONTACT:     David Wallace, Director of Development & Communications

PHONE:           527-8009

E-MAIL:          dawalla@lashaw.org

January 12, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Honolulu Housing Discrimination Complaint Settled for $6960

A local realtor must pay $6960, attend Fair Housing training, and adopt non-discriminatory policies after refusing to rent a duplex to a couple that had moved to Honolulu to be closer to their son.   The Legal Aid Society of Hawai`i assisted the Greens[1] in filing the successful complaint with the Hawai`i Civil Rights Commission, who determined that the realtor was motivated in part by the applicant Mrs. Green’s disability in refusing to rent the duplex to the couple. 

Looking forward to spending more time with their son and his family, the Greens moved from Kansas to Hawai’i.  Upon arrival, they immediately began searching for a place of their own—finding what they felt to be an ideal location: the duplex was close to their family and permitted pets, allowing for the Green’s therapeutic dog that had made the move with them. 

The Green’s son called the realtor and his first visit confirmed his hopes that the unit was perfect for his parents; he explained that his mother capably walks for short time periods unassisted, yet the realtor expressed concerned about her ability to climb the front stairs. Ultimately, even though the Greens were qualified to rent the unit, the duplex was rented to someone else.

            Angered that the realtor’s perceptions of Mrs. Green’s disability prevented them from renting “the perfect home,” the Greens called the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii’s Fair Housing Enforcement Program for help.  Their continued search for a pet-friendly unit close to their son soon failed, resulting in the Greens being forced to continue living with their son and euthanize their therapeutic pet. 

While devastated by this traumatic new life stage, Mrs. Green expressed hope that this case will be a lesson to housing providers that may try to deny persons with disabilities a unit for fear of a liability lawsuit. Persons with fair housing questions or complaints can contact the Fair Housing Enforcement Program of the Legal Aid at 808.527.8024 (Oahu) or toll-free at 866.527.FAIR (Neighbor Islands).

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