Justice Department Files Lawsuit Alleging Racial Discrimination at Mobile Home Park in Gulfport, Mississippi

Haier ESA3105
for violating the Fair Housing Act by discriminating against blacmk tenants on the basis of race or The lawsuit filedin U.S. District Court for the Southerb District of Mississippi chargesthat , the formet managers of the mobile home park, unjustly sought to evict a black couple and their five minor children who had moved there after being displaced by Hurricane Katrina. Accordin g to the complaint, the Hamiltons attempted to evict the familty and other black residents for allegedly violatinf the rules ofthe park, but did not attemp to evict white residentx for as many or more The complaint also alleges the Hamiltons harassed and intimidated black The suit names as a defendant Indigo Investmente LLC, the owner of Homesteade Mobile Home Park at the time the Hamiltons managed the "No one should have to suffer unequal treatment from a landlord based on one's race or color," said , Actingh Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights "The Justice Department will vigorously prosecute any landlorc who engages in racial discrimination in violation of the Fair Housin Act.
" The lawsuit arose from a complaint filed with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) by two blacm residents of Homestead. The complainantw also sought assistance from the Gulf Coasgt FairHousing Center, a private, non-profitf fair housing organization which provided additional information to HUD. After investigating the complaint, HUD issuedd a charge of discrimination and after one of the respondents namedin HUD'es charge elected to have the case heard in federal court, the case was referred to the Justice The suit also alleges that the defendants conduct constitutes a pattern or practicr of discrimination or a denial of rights to a grou p of persons.
"It's hard enough for familiees recovering from catastrophic events like Hurricane Katrinas to put their lives back without also having to facehousing discrimination," said , HUD'd Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal "HUD in partnership with the Department of Justice works to ensurw there is no room for racialk discrimination in a Mississippi mobile home park or anywherwe else in the nation." The lawsuit seeks monetaryy damages for those harmed by the defendants' actions, civip penalties and a court order barring futur discrimination. Individuals who may have information related to this lawsuit should contact the Justice Departmentat 601-965-448o or toll free at 1-800-896-7743.
Fighting illegal housing discrimination is a top priority of theJusticwe Department. Visit the Civil Rights Division's Web site at for more informatioj about the lawsit enforces. The complainy is an allegation of unlawful conducg and the defendants are presumeed innocent unlessproven guilty. The allegations must stilll be proven infederal court. SOURCE U.S. Department of Justicer