DC Attorney General Karl Racine sues city housing authority, again

Very last tumble, Neil Albert, the chair of the DCHA’s governing board, stepped down amid questions more than conflicts of fascination, including his vote for a resolution that bundled his partner’s business enterprise among architectural companies skilled to acquire thousands and thousands of bucks in contracts. A number of days afterwards, the D.C. Council’s housing committee named for an investigation by the Business of the Inspector Basic into “a troubling pattern” of unethical and “potentially criminal” habits at the agency. That investigation is ongoing.

DCHA board chair techniques down amid inquiries about conflicts of curiosity

In 2020, Racine’s place of work sued the authority more than allegations it had unsuccessful to handle drug- and firearm-linked nuisances at 10 properties, an action that pressured the company to make protection updates to those properties.

In Thursday’s accommodate, which seeks unspecified damages, Racine’s workplace alleges that the authority pressured far more than 250 disabled tenants to wait around several years for realistic lodging soon after they proved it was required.

In one particular situation, a tenant who experienced requested a wheelchair-accessible device in 2017 experienced to count on other individuals to carry her to and from her fourth-ground condominium so she could make her healthcare appointments, the accommodate alleges. The woman died previous year, however waiting for her new device, the complaint says.

In a different case, a tenant who was bedridden and motionless requested a two-bed room device so her daughter could serve as an overnight caretaker. Though that ask for was permitted a yr ago, it has yet to be fulfilled, the suit states, forcing the woman’s daughter to set up a digicam in the residence to monitor her mother though she sleeps.

D.C. development has soared beneath Bowser. So have housing expenses.

“This grievance can make distinct that DCHA has frequently failed to satisfy its lawful responsibility to accommodate District inhabitants who have actual physical disabilities with housing models that are safe and available,” Racine explained in a statement.

DCHA spokeswoman Sheila Lewis declined to remark Thursday, indicating the authority had not however reviewed the grievance.

“After trying to get to persuade DCHA to address these protection and excellent of everyday living issues, we experienced no decision but to file this scenario to make sure that the disabled tenants receive the lodging that the legislation requires,” Racine’s statement explained.