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DREDF Files Lawsuit Against 30 LA Landlords for Discriminating Against Disabled Section 8 Tenant

For Immediate Release:
January 30, 2025

Contacts:
Tina Pinedo, DREDF Communications Director, media@dredf.org

Los Angeles, Calif. – Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) has filed a lawsuit against 30 providers of rental housing in the City of Los Angeles for alleged source-of-income discrimination. The providers are accused of refusing to rent to a disabled participant of the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program (Section 8).

Section 8 is a federal program that helps low-income individuals and families pay rent. It plays a crucial role in making housing affordable for low-income families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities, at a time when housing costs are at all time highs.
It has been illegal to discriminate against Section 8 participants under both California law and the Los Angeles Municipal Code for over five years. Still, discrimination remains widespread and disproportionately impacts BIPOC and disabled individuals.
The plaintiff in the lawsuit, Angel Frenes, alleges that each of the housing providers named in his complaint had a policy not to accept Section 8, and confirmed that policy in writing. “For months, I experienced widespread housing discrimination when seeking a home to rent with my housing choice voucher,” said Frenes. “My goal for this lawsuit is to hold housing providers accountable for engaging in unlawful discrimination and to ensure all have equal access to affordable housing.”

“For low-income and disabled tenants priced out of the housing market Section 8 is a critical lifeline and a means of avoiding homelessness” said DREDF Deputy Director Michelle Uzeta. “This is particularly true for the over 43,000 households participating in the Section 8 program in the City of Los Angeles.”

The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court (Angel Frenes v. Beverly Hills Properties et al., Case No: 25STCV02462, seeks policy changes, fair housing training and monetary damages. Read the full complaint here.

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Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF), based in Berkeley, California, is a national nonprofit law and policy center dedicated to advancing and protecting the civil and human rights of people with disabilities. Founded in 1979 by people with disabilities and parents of children with disabilities, DREDF remains board- and staff-led by members of the communities for whom we advocate. DREDF pursues its mission through education, advocacy, and law reform efforts, and is committed to increasing accessible and equally effective healthcare for people with disabilities. DREDF supports legal protections for all diversity and minority communities, including the intersectional interests of people within those communities who also have disabilities.