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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