Fighting discrimination in housing

Despite being prohibited by state and federal fair housing laws, discrimination against people with disabilities remains pervasive. That’s where CLA’s Fair Housing Project comes in, as a team of attorneys and other staff helping tenants fight back against housing discrimination.

In 2023, CLA’s Fair Housing team began investigating a large affordable housing complex in Worcester, where several tenants with disabilities complained of being wrongly denied reasonable accommodations that would provide them equal access to their housing.

After over two years of litigation, CLA reached a comprehensive settlement with the owners of, and management company for, Lincoln Village Apartments (“Lincoln Village”).

In the case, CLA represented six individuals, all of whom are low-income people with disabilities, and alleged the owners of Lincoln Village and its management company, Carabetta Companies, engaged in unlawful housing discrimination.

The complaint detailed allegations that the defendants failed to properly recognize and protect the rights of tenants with disabilities. It also alleged that the defendants violated the tenants’ rights under state law by failing to provide reliable elevator access, which at times left the plaintiffs and others stranded on upper floors of the high-rise building, or stranded in the lobby and unable to return to their apartments.

As part of the court-approved settlement agreement, Lincoln Village agreed to widespread changes that will impact all of its residents, including providing its employees with training on federal and state anti-discrimination laws. Lincoln Village will also review and update its existing reasonable accommodation policies. CLA’s attorneys will monitor Lincoln Village for two years to avoid potential further discrimination against other disabled and elderly residents. 

Michelin C. Cahill, Senior Supervising Attorney for CLA’s Fair Housing Project, noted,

“In this case, our six plaintiffs bravely came forward to ensure their neighbors didn’t face the same discrimination that they had. Through this lawsuit they demanded safety and dignity in their housing and for their neighbors.”