U.S. Attorneys For The Western, Middle, And Eastern Districts Of North Carolina And Federal Officials Host Community Conversation On Combatting Sexual Harassment In Housing

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Dena J. King, Sandra Hairston, and Michael Easley, United States Attorneys for the Western, Middle, and Eastern Districts of North Carolina, respectively, were joined today by officials with the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Inspector General (HUD OIG) in hosting a community conversation focused on the use of the Fair Housing Act to prevent and address sexual harassment in HUD-assisted housing.

“Abusing power and control over housing by committing acts of sexual harassment violates a person’s right to equal housing opportunities,” said U.S. Attorney King. “My Office remains steadfast in our commitment to enforce federal civil rights laws to combat sexual harassment in housing, protect vulnerable tenants and housing applicants, and hold accountable landlords, property managers, owners, and others who violate these statutes.”

“Sexual harassment of citizens who are pursuing safe and affordable housing will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Hairston. “This reprehensible conduct is often inflicted on people who feel they do not have an avenue to seek help. We hope today’s seminar has provided our partner agencies and organizations with information that can be shared with citizens who may have fallen prey to this illegal activity.”

“In our ongoing commitment to ensure justice and safety for all, we are proud to co-host a community conversation with a focus on combating sexual harassment in housing,” said U.S. Attorney Easley. “This event represents a crucial step in our collaborative efforts to create a safe living environment for all people.”

“Sexual harassment and sexual assault in HUD-assisted housing are discriminatory actions that violate tenants’ rights to safe and fair housing,” said Inspector General Oliver Davis. “We are proud to work closely with our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Department of Justice and will continue to enforce the Fair Housing Act by pursuing bad actors who take advantage of tenants and prospective tenants in violation of the law.”

The virtual engagement signified the partnership between the federal agencies to promote the health and safety of tenants residing in HUD-assisted housing. Representatives of all agencies expressed their commitment to working together to bring justice to victims of predatory landlords and other housing providers who sexually harass or sexually assault tenants and/or prospective tenants in violation of the federal Fair Housing Act. Discussion topics included information about the scope and use of the Fair Housing Act, tenant rights under the law, how to recognize and report sexual misconduct in housing, and case studies.

Participants included representatives from legal aid offices, fair housing organizations, and other community organizations who assist underserved and underrepresented communities with housing. Participants were encouraged to share their experiences, concerns, and expertise to forge future partnerships and provide resource assistance to beneficiaries when reporting allegations of sexual misconduct in housing.

If you or someone you know has information about or has been a victim of sexual harassment, sexual assault, or sexual exploitation – even if the events occurred years ago – report it to the HUD Office of Inspector General Hotline at 1-800-347-3735 or visit the website at www.hudoig.gov/hotline.

You may also file a complaint with HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity at https://www.hud.gov/fairhousing/fileacomplaint

You may also contact the U.S. Department of Justice at 1-844-380-6178 or visit www.civilrights.justice.gov. 

Individuals who believe they may have been victims of sexual harassment or other housing discrimination may also contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at:

Western District of North Carolina: Charlotte (704) 344-6222 or Asheville (828) 271-4661

Middle District of North Carolina: (336) 333-5351

Eastern District of North Carolina: (919) 856-4530

For more information on the three North Carolina U.S. Attorney’s Offices, priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit:

Western District of North Carolina: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdnc

Middle District of North Carolina: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdnc

Eastern District of North Carolina: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ednc