US Attorney Graves speaks to DC tenants on exercising their right to fair housing

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Attorney is on a mission to let D.C. tenants know and exercise their rights to fair housing. U.S. Attorney for D.C., Matthew Graves and his team spoke to residents at the Anacostia Coordinating Council Tuesday. 

Graves was joined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Inspector General Rae Oliver Davis at a panel held at the monthly meeting of the Anacostia Coordinating Council at Martha’s Table. It focused on tenant's rights to safe, sanitary housing, and how to report sexual harassment or other hostile living conditions at government-owned properties. 

“No one should be subjected to unsafe conditions or harassment in order to have a roof over their head,” said U.S. Attorney Graves. “The residents of D.C. have a right to feel safe in their homes, to have their rights respected by their landlords, and to not have to worry that they and their families will be harmed by environmental hazards. The affirmative civil rights and environmental justice team in this office is working, daily, to prevent, correct, and prosecute those cases that violate HUD’s housing assistance program guidelines. Today’s safe housing panel, we hope, will arm residents with the information they need to ensure their rights are protected. You have a right to feel safe in your home.”

Those who attended included members and leaders of communities east of the Anacostia River who might have been affected by environmental injustices, such as lead paint in their homes, or become victims of sexual harassment in housing by their landlords, property managers, maintenance staff, or other housing personnel in positions of authority. Those who experienced hardships were encouraged to share what had happened to them and their concerns to help future partnerships and provide aid and assistance to beneficiaries when reporting matters related to health, safety, or security in housing.

Graves explained that his office will continue to empower residents by bringing this information to more community groups and tenant associations. 

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