July 14, 2022 — In 2019, our client Tomika Anglin filed complaints against a landlord and property management company with the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations, alleging that she had been discriminated against because she uses a housing voucher. Ms. Anglin, the property owners and the property management company released the following statements after reaching a settlement in their case. None of the parties admitted to fault or liability.
Statement from Tomika Anglin Regarding the Settlement of her Case Against Allegiance Real Estate LLC
Tomika Anglin is pleased to announce the amicable resolution with Allegiance Real Estate LLC (“Allegiance”) of the charge filed with the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations (PCHR) for violation of the Philadelphia Fair Practices Ordinance, which prohibits discrimination based on source of income. According to the Complaint, the Respondents discriminated against Ms. Anglin by not accepting a housing voucher. See Anglin v. Allegiance Real Estate LLC and Anthony Gotzis and Lori Gotzis, PCHR Charge No. 2019-08-12-2001. PCHR began its investigation of this complaint in August 2019. The parties reached a settlement through the agency’s administrative conciliation process by which none of these parties admitted to fault or liability. However, in addition to undisclosed monetary terms, Respondents have adopted written policies regarding compliance with applicable federal, state and local fair housing laws.
“As housing costs increase and wages for many remain stagnant, discriminating against a tenant based on how they pay their rent is yet another barrier to securing housing”
“As housing costs increase and wages for many remain stagnant, discriminating against a tenant based on how they pay their rent is yet another barrier to securing housing,” said Ms. Anglin. “As a property management company, I appreciate Allegiance’s implementation of source of income anti-discrimination policies in their leasing practices.”
“We are pleased that Allegiance has demonstrated a serious commitment to abiding by the spirit and letter of the Philadelphia law that prohibits source of income discrimination,” said Sari Bernstein, an attorney at the Public Interest Law Center, which represented Tomika Anglin in this case. The Fair Practices Ordinance applies to property management companies and protects renters from discrimination, including discrimination based on the manner in which a renter intends to pay rent, such as Housing Choice Vouchers. “Property management companies play a critical role in the Philadelphia rental market and the adoption of anti-discrimination policies make it easier for both the management company and tenants to understand their rights and responsibilities under local law.”
“Allegiance’s commitment to complying with Philadelphia law will allow people with housing vouchers to have fair access to housing,” said Molly Flynn, Esq., of Faegre Drinker, an attorney who also represented Ms. Anglin in this action.
The Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations enforces Philadelphia’s laws that protect an individual’s basic right to fair and equal treatment by landlords and other providers of housing and property.
Download a copy of the statement here.
Joint Statement from Tomika Anglin, and Anthony and Lori Gotzis Regarding the Settlement of Their Case
Tomika Anglin and Anthony and Lori Gotzis are pleased to announce the amicable resolution of the charge filed with the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations (PCHR) for violation of the Philadelphia Fair Practices Ordinance (“FPO”), which prohibits discrimination based on source of income. According to the Complaint, the Respondents discriminated against Ms. Anglin by not accepting a housing voucher. See Anglin v. Allegiance Real Estate LLC and Anthony Gotzis and Lori Gotzis, PCHR Charge No. 2019-08-12-2001. PCHR began its investigation of this complaint in August 2019. The parties reached a settlement through the agency’s administrative conciliation process by which none of these parties admitted to fault or liability. However, in addition to undisclosed monetary terms, Respondents have adopted written policies regarding compliance with applicable federal, state and local fair housing laws.
“As housing costs increase and wages for many remain stagnant, discriminating against a tenant based on how they pay their rent is yet another barrier to securing housing,” said Ms. Anglin. “I appreciate the Gotzis’ implementation of source of income anti-discrimination policies in their leasing practices.”
“The adoption of anti-discrimination policies make it easier for both the landlord and tenants to understand their rights and responsibilities under local law.”
“We are pleased that Anthony and Lori Gotzis have demonstrated a serious commitment to abiding by the spirit and letter of the FPO source of income discrimination protection,” said Sari Bernstein, an attorney at the Public Interest Law Center, which represented Tomika Anglin in this case. The FPO protects renters from discrimination, including discrimination based on the manner in which a renter intends to pay rent, such as Housing Choice Vouchers. “The adoption of anti-discrimination policies make it easier for both the landlord and tenants to understand their rights and responsibilities under local law.”
“Anthony and Lori Gotzis commitment to complying with the FPO will allow people with housing vouchers to have fair access to housing,” said Molly Flynn, Esq., of Faegre Drinker, an attorney who also represented Ms. Anglin in this action.
The Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations enforces Philadelphia’s laws that protect an individual’s basic right to fair and equal treatment by landlords and other providers of housing and property.
“This experience has been a valuable lesson for us, a small landlord who uses property management companies,” said Anthony and Lori Gotzis. “It has encouraged us to take a more active role with our management company, and see that policies are in place to ensure compliance with the law. We are pleased that we could work with Ms. Anglin and the Public Interest Law Center to both properly rectify the situation and raise awareness among all small landlords in Philadelphia.”
