Seaford landlord settles income-source discrimination complaint
Long Island Housing Services (LIHS) and an individual Complainant settled complaints of housing discrimination on the basis of Source of Income against Mike Ovadia, the owner of a 2-family home located in Seaford, New York. A complaint was also filed against Uzi Ovadia, who interacted with the LIHS testers.
In 2021, LIHS received allegations of Source of Income discrimination against both Ovadias. The allegations included an online advertisement with discriminatory statements regarding source of income. The individual Complainant reported to LIHS that she was denied housing by them because she has a Section 8 Housing Voucher. LIHS investigated her claim and represented her with the filing of a complaint based on Source of Income discrimination against the Ovadias.
LIHS’ testing and investigation revealed evidence supporting her claim of Source of Income discrimination. LIHS’ testers posing as persons having Section 8 Housing Vouchers were told that Housing Vouchers were not accepted.
In comparison, the evidence demonstrated that a tester without a Section 8 Housing Voucher was given instructions on how to apply for the property and told that the property was still available. A difference in treatment based on the protected class of source of income is illegal housing discrimination protected under fair housing and human rights laws.
New York State, Suffolk, and Nassau County Human Rights Laws prohibit discrimination based on a lawful source of income. Source of income discrimination occurs when a housing provider refuses to accept a lawful source of income, including, but not limited to:
- Supplemental Social Income (SSI),
- Social Security Disability (SSD),
- Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program,
- Nursing Home Transition, and Diversion (NHTD) Housing Subsidy,
- Olmstead Housing Subsidy (OHS),
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Medicaid Waiver program, or
- child support.
LIHS negotiated the settlement agreement which included monetary damages of $4,000 to LIHS, and the Respondents would be required to:
- adopt a non-discriminatory fair housing policy,
- display compliance with fair housing laws, and
- participate in fair housing training.
LIHS also negotiated a settlement on behalf of the individual Complainant, and she also received monetary damages of $4,000.
“Every housing provider, regardless of their size, is responsible to know and obey the law. Though there is no excuse for not obeying the law against source of income discrimination since they have been county law in Nassau and Suffolk for a decade. Since we are continually seeing explicit violations of this law, government needs to step in when licensing housing providers to require them to have written anti-discrimination policies and maybe it is necessary to require training as in other businesses that so deeply effect the public,” said Ian Wilder, LIHS Executive Director.
People who believe that they have experienced housing discrimination in Nassau or Suffolk Counties, can contact Long Island Housing Services, Inc. at 631-567-5111 ext. 375
Hablamos Español 631-567-5111 Ext. 378 or info@lifairhousing.org
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Founded in 1969, Long Island Housing Services’ mission is the elimination of unlawful discrimination and promotion of decent and affordable housing through advocacy and education.
The Fair Housing enforcement and advocacy work of LIHS is supported through grants from Enterprise Community Partners.
LIHS is a private, nonprofit HUD-qualified Fair Housing Enforcement Organization and a federally certified, approved Housing Counseling agency.
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