Portland, Maine: U.S.
Attorney Halsey B. Frank is asking Mainers who have been the victim of
housing-related sexual harassment resulting from the current COVID-19 crisis to
report such practices to the Department of Justice.
“While the vast majority of landlords have been incredibly
understanding and accommodating to their tenants during this crisis,” said U.S.
Attorney Frank, “there have been reports of some landlords who have responded
to requests to defer rent payments with demands for sexual favors and other
unwelcome sexual conduct. This behavior is reprehensible and will not be
tolerated. The Attorney General has asked all U.S. Attorneys to investigate reports
of housing-related sexual harassment resulting from the current crisis, and my
office and the Department of Justice are ready to do whatever we can to stop
this predatory behavior.”
In October 2017, the Civil Rights Division of the Department
of Justice launched an initiative to combat sexual harassment in housing. Since
launching the initiative, the Department has filed 14 lawsuits alleging a
pattern or practice of sexual harassment in housing. Recently, for example, the
Department settled a sexual harassment lawsuit against the owners and managers
of Kansas rental properties alleging that one of the owners sexually harassed
numerous tenants. The owners agreed to pay $160,000 in damages and civil
penalties to resolve the lawsuit.
Individuals who believe they may have been victims of sexual
harassment in housing can call the DOJ Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative
at 1-844-380-6178, or send an email to fairhousing@usdoj.gov, describing your
experience or the experience of someone you know.
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