[nagdu] homeless shelter refuses to accept blind man with his dog guide

Darla Rogers djrogers0628 at gmail.com
Thu May 16 19:23:23 UTC 2013


Dear Marion,

	Many shelters, despite their claims to the contrary, probably do get
grants; food vouchers; commodities, etc.  If they do, then, anyone seeking
services should be admitted unless doing so could be proved to be more
dangerous or they are at capacity then a motel room should be found post
haste.
Darla & Precious Roxy


-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of blind411
Sent: Wednesday, May 15, 2013 1:02 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] homeless shelter refuses to accept blind man with his
dog guide

	This is a very interesting and timely post. I recently advocated for
a woman in California who was denied access to a homeless shelter because of
her service dog and contacted the NAGDU Information & Advocacy Hotline. The
shelter claimed that, since their actual shelter services were provided by
churches and churches were exempt from the provisions of the ADA, they did
not need to provide services to someone with a service animal. I argued
that, since the shelter received state and federal funding, Section 504 of
the Rehabilitation Act required all parties to implement policies
prohibiting discrimination on the basis of disability. Failure to do so
could jeopardize this funding. I think they are changing their policies, but
this message will help encourage this be done!

Fraternally yours,
Marion Gwizdala



-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Criminal Justice
Major Extraordinaire
Sent: Wednesday, May 15, 2013 12:26 PM
To: Undisclosed-Recipient:;
Subject: [nagdu] homeless shelter refuses to accept blind man with his dog
guide

Sent: Wednesday, May 15, 2013 7:17 AM
Subject: homeless shelter refuses to accept blind man with his dog guide
(Source: HUD) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
announced today that it is charging City Rescue Mission of New Castle (CRM)
and one of its employees with refusing to accept a blind man and his guide
dog at a homeless shelter in New Castle, PA.
HUD's investigation found that CRM denied a reasonable accommodation request
to allow the man to keep his dog in the shelter, in violation of the Fair
Housing Act.
The Fair Housing Act requires housing providers to make reasonable
accommodations in their rules, policies, practices, or services when needed
to provide persons with disabilities an equal opportunity to use or enjoy a
dwelling.
"For many people with disabilities, guide dogs and other assistance animals
are necessities, not options," stated John Trasviña, HUD Assistant Secretary
for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. "HUD will enforce Fair Housing Act
protections to ensure that housing providers grant reasonable accommodation
requests."
According to HUD's charge, a blind, homeless individual contacted CRM in
order to seek shelter. HUD's charge alleges that a CRM employee informed the
man that he could not move into the shelter with his guide dog even after
the man said that he could not be without his service animal.
When a caseworker from Lawrence County Community Action, an organization
that assists low-income people, contacted the shelter and explained that the
man needed the guide dog because of his disability, the CRM employee again
refused, saying that the dog would have to go elsewhere.
HUD's charge will be heard by a United States Administrative Law Judge
unless any party to the charge elects to have the case heard in federal
district court. If an administrative law judge finds after a hearing that
discrimination has occurred, he may award damages to aggrieved persons for
the damages caused them by the discrimination.
The judge may also order
injunctive relief and other equitable relief to deter further
discrimination, as well as payment of attorney fees.
In addition, the judge may impose fines in order to vindicate the public
interest. If the matter is decided in federal court, the judge may also
award punitive damages to aggrieved persons.
Persons who believe they have been denied a reasonable accommodation request
may file a complaint by contacting HUD's Office of Fair Housing and Equal
Opportunity at
(800) 669-9777 (voice)
or (800) 927-9275 (TTY).
Housing discrimination complaints may also be filed by going to
www.hud.gov/fairhousing or by downloading HUD's free housing discrimination
mobile application, which can be accessed through Apple devices, such as the
iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
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