United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison and HUD Inspector General Rae Oliver Davis Host Safe Housing Summits

DETROIT - United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan Dawn N. Ison and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Inspector General Rae Oliver Davis hosted two summits yesterday focused on promoting the health, safety, and civil rights of tenants living in HUD-assisted housing. The program focused on combatting sexual misconduct and eliminating environmental hazards in HUD-assisted housing.

The summits, which took place at Anderson Enrichment Center in Saginaw and Kemeny Recreation Center in Detroit, were part of the U.S. Department of Justice's and Inspector General's complementary initiatives to promote safe housing related to eliminating environmental hazards such as lead-based paint and how to recognize and report sexual harassment and misconduct.

"Everyone should be able to live safely in their homes, free from exposure to environmental hazards, and free from being subjected to harassment from their landlord," said U.S. Attorney Ison. "We convened these summits today to raise awareness that residents have protections under federal law and that the U.S. Attorney's Office, together with our partners at HUD OIG, will continue to work every day to eradicate sexual harassment and environmental hazards in housing throughout the Eastern District of Michigan."

"In partnership with U.S. Attorney Ison and her colleagues across the Nation, we remain dedicated to combatting sexual misconduct by housing providers and ensuring HUD-assisted tenants live in units free from lead and other environmental hazards," said Inspector General Oliver Davis. "Opportunities like those we held today engaging community stakeholders in safe housing summits demonstrate HUD OIG's commitment to holding accountable housing providers for putting the health and safety of HUD-assisted families at risk, and bringing to justice those who victimize vulnerable tenants."

Participants included representatives from organizations that routinely work with vulnerable populations most likely to be impacted by environmental hazards, such as lead-based paint in their homes, or subjected to sexual harassment in housing by their landlords, property managers, or others with control over housing. The organizations represented included legal services offices, fair housing organizations, civil rights groups, shelters, and social service organizations.

If you or someone you know has information about environmental hazards and unsafe conditions in HUD-assisted housing or has been a victim of sexual harassment, sexual assault, or sexual exploitation - even if the events occurred years ago - report it to the HUD Office of Inspector General Hotline at 1-800-347-3735 or visit the website at www. https://hudoig.gov/hotline. You may also file a complaint with HUD's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity at www.hud.gov/fairhousing/fileacomplaint.

Individuals who believe they have been victims of sexual harassment in housing, or discrimination may also contact the U.S. Attorney's Office at 1-313-226-9151 or email us at [email protected].