Evergreen Reporter

Members of the Anacostia Coordinating Council engaged in discussions today with U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Inspector General Rae Oliver Davis during a panel focused on promoting the health, safety, and civil liberties of tenants living in HUD-assisted housing. The program addressed eliminating environmental hazards and combatting sexual misconduct in such housing. Presentations were also made by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division and Office of Environmental Justice on related topics, including the development of a Department-wide environmental justice strategic plan.

The panel took place at the monthly meeting of the Anacostia Coordinating Council at Martha’s Table in the Seventh Metropolitan Police Department District. It is part of HUD Inspector General's initiatives to promote safe housing strategies related to environmental justice and how to recognize and report sexual misconduct in housing.

Attendees included members and leaders from communities east of the Anacostia River who might be impacted by environmental injustices, such as lead paint in their homes, or become victims of sexual harassment by landlords, property managers, maintenance staff, or other housing personnel in positions of authority. The public was encouraged to share their experiences, concerns, and expertise to build future partnerships and provide aid when reporting matters related to health, safety, or security in housing.

“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.”

“I am grateful for the opportunity afforded us by the Anacostia Coordinating Council to directly engage community members about HUD OIG’s initiatives in pursuit of environmental justice violations and combating sexual misconduct in housing,” said Inspector General Oliver Davis. “We remain committed to working closely with our partners at the Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to raise awareness about violations of federal law in these areas and pursue bad actors who victimize vulnerable people receiving HUD assistance.”

If you have or someone you know has information about environmental hazards or unsafe unit conditions in HUD-assisted housing or has been a victim of sexual harassment or exploitation—even if events occurred years ago—report it to the HUD Office of Inspector General Hotline at 1-800-347-3735 or visit www.hudoig.gov/hotline. Complaints can also be filed with HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity at https://www.hud.gov/fairhousing/fileacomplaint.

You may also contact the U.S. Department of Justice at 1-844-380-6178 or visit www.civilrights.justice.gov. Individuals who believe they may have been victims of environmental injustices or housing discrimination may contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at (202) 252-2500, USADC.CivilRights@usdoj.gov or https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/affirmative-civil-rights-and-environmental-justice.

For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, its priorities, and resources available for community help, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc.