Lawsuit: Harris County Housing Authority Wrongfully Terminated Disabled Section 8 Tenant's Housing Voucher, Violating Due Process Rights, Fair Housing Act While Doing So

In Houston, Texas, The Southeast Texas Record reports:

• A Harris County woman is suing the Harris County Housing Authority and numerous employees, alleging unlawfully denying the re-certification of her Section 8 housing allowance.
  
  Jane Doe filed a lawsuit Sept. 30 in the Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas against the Harris County Housing Authority, Tom McCasland, Horace Alliscon, Debra McCray and Beverly Burroughs, alleging violation the Fair Housing Act
  
  The plaintiff alleges the defendants unlawfully denied the re-certification of her Section 8, three-bedroom housing voucher.
  
  According to the complaint, In 2013, the plaintiff, who suffers from anxiety and panic disorders was denied her housing allowance in part due to the fact she resided with her mother.(1) The plaintiff contends housing authority employees thwarted, and mishandled her appeal rights.
  
  As a consequence, the lawsuit states, the plaintiff became ill and was hospitalized for anxiety-related problems she attributes to the loss of her voucher and the appeal process.
  
  The plaintiff seeks unspecified damages, plus attorney fees and costs of litigation. She is represented by attorney David Sodegh of The Law Offices of David Sodegh in Humble.
  

Source: Disabled woman says Harris County Housing Authority wrongfully denied allowance.

For the lawsuit, see Doe v. Harris County Housing Authority et al.

---------------------

(1) From the lawsuit:

• 20. Ms. Doe is disabled. She suffers from mental disabilities, including Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Panic Disorder without Agoraphobia, which substantially limit her major life activities.
  
  21. Ms. Doe has had a three bedroom voucher with the HCHA since 2008. She has been renting from her mother since 2010 when she was allowed to do so by HCHA as a reasonable accommodation for Ms. Doe’s disabilities.
  
  22. At her 2013 recertification, Ms. Doe was informed that she would not be able to keep her three bedroom voucher because of rule changes at HCHA. Ms. Doe protested the change and the way she was treated during the recertification and filed complaints with HCHA and HUD. It was only then that an issue was made of the fact she was renting from her mother, and she was informed that she would have to move. This issue was brought up by HCHA only in retaliation for Ms. Doe’s fair housing complaints to HUD. Section 818 of the Fair Housing Act makes it unlawful to retaliate against any person because he or she has filed a housing discrimination complaint.