An Alabama public housing board accused of disability discrimination has entered into a voluntary compliance/conciliation agreement with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

The case began when a woman with disabilities filed a complaint with HUD alleging the Mobile Housing Board denied her request for a Housing Choice Voucher.

A compliance review conducted by HUD then found the board also failed to build units in accordance with the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS). Section 504 and HUD regulations require that 5 percent of dwelling units in multifamily housing projects – or at least one unit (whichever is greater) – must be accessible for those with hearing or visual impairments. Units also must be constructed in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

In addition, the review also found the board did not abide by the requirements of the Section 3 program, which mandates that HUD recipients direct employment and other economic opportunities to low- and very low-income persons and businesses that hire them.

Under the terms of the agreement, the housing board will pay the woman $117,500 and issue her a Housing Choice Voucher. The agreement also states that the board will allocate $114,000 for Section 504-related improvements at three separate developments: Downtown Renaissance ($61,500), Renaissance Gardens ($19,200) and The Renaissance ($33,300).

The Mobile Housing Board also agreed to appoint a qualified individual to serve as its Section 3 coordinator and to help contractors develop Section 3 plans.

“When organizations that control access to housing fail to meet their responsibilities under the nation’s housing laws, it makes finding suitable housing even more difficult, especially for persons with disabilities,” Anna Maria Farias, HUD assistant secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO), said in a news release. “The agreement we are announcing today is yet another example of HUD’s commitment to meeting its obligation to protect the rights of individuals and families seeking housing.”

The board has a choice of building new units or converting 135 of its 2,696 existing units to become UFAS-compliant for the mobility impaired, plus an additional 54 hearing and visually-impaired units, according to the agreement.

According to the compliance agreement, the review was carried out during the week of Aug. 28, 2017, by reviewing in-house and on-site records; surveying administrative offices, common areas and designated UFAS and reasonably accommodated/partially accessible units, and interviewing staff.

The agreement will be binding for at least three years, or until the board satisfactorily completes the provision terms.

The board receives funding under the Low-Income Public Housing Program (LIPH), Housing Choice Voucher Program and the Section 8 Substantial Rehabilitation Loan Program.