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Final Settlement on 17-year-old Thompson v HUD Case

Final Settlement on 17-year-old Thompson v HUD Case


On November 20, 2012, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced a final settlement in Thompson v HUD, a 17-year-old civil rights case filed by African American public housing residents.  The case was filed against HUD, the Housing Authority of Baltimore City (HABC), and the City of Baltimore.  


The case was filed in 1995 after the plaintiffs argued HABC and HUD created segregated public housing throughout Baltimore City.  The plaintiffs argued HUD and HABC violated the Fair Housing Act along with U.S. Constitution and other civil rights laws.  


The settlement calls for the following:


HUD is required to continue the mobility program that was launched early in the Thompson case.  The program has helped over 1,800 families who chose to move into public housing in Baltimore City.  The settlement requires HUD to offer similar opportunities to 2,600 more families until 2018.  


HUD has also agreed to maintain an online housing locator for affordable housing throughout the Baltimore area, sponsor a study on housing opportunity throughout the Baltimore area, and review civil rights reviews over the next three years.  


Tony West, Acting Associate Attorney General, stated: “Today’s final settlement draws to a close a lengthy dispute and does so in a way that will make a real difference to thousands of families in Baltimore.”


Stuart Delery, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Department of Justice’s Civil Division, stated: “This resolution helps move past litigation toward a process that seeks to significantly improve opportunities for public housing residents to obtain quality, affordable housing in the Baltimore area.”  


Several parts of the case involved the demolition and reconstruction of several high rise public housing projects throughout Baltimore City.  The parts of this case were settled and approved by the U.S. District Court in 1996.  


Source: Department of Housing and Urban Development