The lawsuit brought by the DOJ alleges that the City of Springfield has violated the Fair Housing Act through housing practices which treat individuals with disabilities less favorably than those without disabilities. This lawsuit seeks a court order preventing Springfield from enforcing the 600 ft. spacing requirement between group homes for persons with disabilities, at our clients’ location as well as elsewhere in the city. The lawsuit also seeks monetary damages to compensate the victims of these practices and ordinances, and payment of a civil penalty.

The press release issued by the Department of Justice can be read here.

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Equip for Equality, an organization who advocates for persons with disabilities, and the Department of Justice filed amicus curiae, or “friend of the court,” briefs supporting our clients. In their brief, Equip for Equality argues that persons with disabilities benefit from community living, that Illinois has very few persons with disabilities in their communities, and that Springfield’s actions completely interfere with the right of our clients to enjoy their community. The brief filed by Equip for Equality can be read here, with more information available on their website.

Similarly, the Department of Justice argues in support of the August ruling that the zoning code enforced by the city intentionally discriminates against persons with disabilities who live in group homes, and that their failure to accommodate our clients by refusing a special use permit is in violation of the Fair Housing Act. The full brief filed by the Department of Justice can be read here.

Oral argument in this matter is scheduled for early February 2018.  

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    Because of the increasing need for community homes in southern Illinois, RAVE sought to open two community homes in Anna, Illinois. 

     RAVE’s attempt to open the new homes was met by open opposition from the city and its residents, which culminated in Anna’s denial of the special use permits required to operate a community home in the area.

     Plaintiffs filed suit in November 2017 claiming Anna’s actions violated the the Fair Housing Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. 

     A copy of the Complaint can be downloaded here.  Plaintiffs also sought a preliminary and permanent injunction prohibiting Anna from enforcing its discriminatory ordinance and requiring the city to issue the building and special use permits, as well as a certificate of zoning compliance to permit RAVE to construct and operate its community home in the city. This matter was successfully settled in April 2017. Anna issued RAVE the necessary permits and RAVE is now able to take the steps necessary to move residents into the home. Most importantly, RAVE’s residents are no longer at risk of facing institutionalization due to a lack of community housing.    

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