FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          CR
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1997                       (202) 616-2777
                                               TDD (202) 514-1888


    JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SUES LOUISIANA APARTMENT BROKER COMPANY
           FOR DISCRIMINATING AGAINST AFRICAN AMERICANS

     WASHINGTON, D.C.   The Justice Department today charged the
owners and managers of a Metairie, Louisiana, apartment brokerage
company with engaging in a pattern of discrimination against
African-Americans and families with children.

     The complaint, filed in U.S. District Court in New Orleans
against Apartment and Home Hunters, Inc. (AHH), is based in part
on evidence developed by a nationwide fair housing testing
program conducted by the Department.  The lawsuit alleges that
AHH violated the Fair Housing Act by honoring the discriminatory
instructions of property owners who refused to rent to African-
Americans or families with children by steering prospective
tenants away from those owners' properties. 

     "This suit is part of our ongoing effort to uncover and
punish housing discrimination around the country," said Acting
Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Isabelle Katz
Pinzler.  "This case should put all housing providers on notice
that we know how to detect such discrimination and will act
forcefully wherever we do detect it."

     The suit charges that AHH managers Digna Hunter and Lori
Mabile discriminated against African Americans and families with
children because they would not allow those groups to rent
certain properties.  The two allegedly instructed the company's
leasing agents to falsely tell African-American clients that no
apartments meeting their description were available, when in fact
they were.  This practice was allegedly implemented to comply
with the discriminatory wishes of property owners. 

     The complaint asserts a similar pattern of discrimination
against families with children.  Since 1989, the Fair Housing Act
has prohibited such discrimination against families with
children.

     Under the Department's nationwide testing program, trained
pairs of equally qualified black and white testers posing as
prospective tenants inquire about available units.  By comparing
the experiences of the testers, investigators can determine
whether minorities are treated less favorably than whites.

     Today's lawsuit is the first in the New Orleans area
stemming from its testing program.  Nationwide, the testing
program has produces 38 federal cases resulting in settlements
totaling more than $6.5 million in damages.

     Evidence for today's case was also gathered through testing
conducted by the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center.

     "All persons should have an equal chance to find suitable
housing, regardless of their color or whether they have
children," said Eddie J. Jordan, U.S. Attorney in New Orleans. 
"This kind of systematic discrimination demands a vigorous law
enforcement response."

     The complaint seeks an order preventing the complex from
engaging in further discriminatory practices and requiring the
defendants to pay damages to any individuals identified as
victims of the discrimination.  Under the Fair Housing Act, a
court may also require each defendant to pay a civil penalty of
up to $50,000.

     Individuals who believe they may have been the victims of
housing discrimination at Apartment and Home Hunters should call
the Housing Section of the Civil Rights Division of the Justice
Department at 202-514-4713, the United States Attorney's Office
at 504-680-3129, or the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action
Center at 504-596-2100.
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