Following a multi-million dollar settlement, several Western New York care facilities will be receiving new accommodations.
Fair Housing Organizations including Housing Opportunities Made Equal of Western New York, announced a $7.1 million settlement over disability discrimination claims against Clover Senior Properties on Thursday.
The settlement requires more than $6 million be spent on accessibility improvement at 50 properties in 6 different states, including 11 facilities in the area and $3 million will go towards retrofitting public and common areas to improve accessibility for individuals with disabilities.
In addition, more than $3 million will be used to pay for modifications for individual units upon request to make them compliant under the federal Fair Housing Act.
"If there's a policy, a rule, a practice, or a service that's in place that's going to negatively impact a person with a disability, if that person with a disability requests an exception to that rule, that policy, that practice or service, that exemption should be granted," Dan Corbitt, associate director at Housing Opportunities Made Equal, said. "I have no doubt that there are other housing providers in Western New York and throughout the state and the nation that have similar issues and really this is a call for those housing providers to ensure they are compliant with the law."
Housing Opportunities Made Equal offers resources to both residents and landlords to make sure equal treatment is being given to all and to help make sure all laws are followed.