Housing Authority To Cough Up Over $50K To Settle Fair Housing Suit Alleging It Refused To Provide Deaf, 82-Year Old Tenant With Video Relay System To Allow Her To Receive Emergency Notifications

In Springfield, Massachusetts, WWLP-TV Channel 22 reports:

• The Springfield Housing Authority is paying more than $50,000 to a deaf elderly tenant, to resolve claims that the agency didn’t provide her with proper equipment to receive emergency notifications.
  
  According to a news release sent to 22News by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the 82 year-old woman filed the complaint, alleging violations to the Fair Housing Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, and Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The complaint charged that the tenant did not have the same access to notification and other services available to hearing tenants.
  
  The Springfield Housing Authority has agreed to pay the woman $51,000, and provide a device to allow for a video relay system in her apartment. They will also communicate with her through sign language, or the video relay system. Also, they will have to consult with experts in disabilities on how to properly serve tenants who are deaf, and implement best practices for fire safety with respect to deaf or hard-of-hearing tenants.
  
  The authority will also have to pay $5,000 to monitor its compliance with the agreement over the next three years.

Source: Springfield Housing Authority paying $51K to resolve discrimination claim (Agency allegedly did not properly communicate with deaf 82 year-old tenant).

See also, Springfield Housing Authority Settles Disputes Of Discrimination Against Resident With Disabilities:

• The resident was assisted by the Massachusetts Fair Housing Center, a HUD Fair Housing Initiatives Program agency, in filing her complaint. The Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, a HUD Fair Housing Assistance Program agency, investigated the Title VIII complaint. And HUD investigated the complaint under Section 504 and the ADA. While the investigation was ongoing, the woman and the housing authority agreed to settle the complaint. HUD, the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination and the parties negotiated a Conciliation Agreement with the Commission and a Voluntary Compliance Agreement with HUD. reasonable accomodation