FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          CR
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1996                         (202) 616-2765
                                               TDD (202) 514-1888

                                 
 JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SUES RENTAL AGENCY AND TWO HOUSING PROVIDERS
   FOR ALLEGEDLY DISCRIMINATING AGAINST FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN


     WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A Spokane, Washington rental company was
sued today by the Justice Department for allegedly listing certain
apartment complexes as off limits to families with children.
     The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Spokane, alleged
that Computerized--The Rental Company and two Spokane housing
providers who used the company's services, violated the Fair
Housing Act by refusing to show and rent apartments to families
with children.  
     The suit alleged that since at least 1994 the rental company
published listings specifically stating that families with children
were not allowed to rent at certain Spokane complexes.  
     It also claimed that two housing providers who advertised with
the rental company -- Joseph Blumel and Reugh Construction --
refused or discouraged families with children from residing at some
or all of their apartments.
     "The family is the core of our society," stated Assistant
Attorney General for Civil Rights Deval L. Patrick. "Denying
housing to families raising children is not the American way." 
     Patrick said the Justice Department became aware of the
discrimination after receiving a complaint from the Northwest Fair
Housing Alliance, a Spokane housing rights organization.  The
housing group conducted several "tests" at the complexes to see if
they were complying with federal law.  
     Through testing, pairs of individuals posing as prospective
tenants inquire about the availability of housing.  Here, the
housing group sent couples with children as well as couples without
children to rent housing.  By comparing the experiences of the two
families, investigators were able to determine that they were
treated differently.
     The Justice Department has initiated a similar testing program
across the country.  That program has produced 31 federal suits in
eight states alleging discrimination not only against families with
children, but against African Americans and Native Americans as
well.  The suits have resulted in 17 settlements totaling more than
$1.9 million in damages and civil penalties.
     The Fair Housing Act of 1968, which prohibits discrimination
in housing based on race, color, religion, sex, and national
origin, was amended by Congress in 1988 to prohibit discrimination
against families with children.
     "This suit sends a clear message to housing providers in
Spokane to either allow families with children equal housing
opportunities or pay the price for violating the law," said James
P. Connelly, U.S. Attorney in Spokane.    
     The suit seeks a court order requiring the defendants to stop
the discrimination, pay civil penalties to the government and
monetary damages to families who were victims of their
discriminatory practices, and compensate the Northwest Fair Housing
Alliance, and a civil penalty.  
     Under the Fair Housing Act, a court may require each defendant
to pay a civil penalty of up to $50,000 for the first violation and
$100,000 for a subsequent violation. 
     The Spokane apartment complexes sued include the Pinewood
Terrace Apartments; Aspen Court Apartments; and Riverside West
Apartments.
     Last month the Justice Department obtained its largest
settlement in a case alleging discrimination against families with
children.  Under the settlement the owners of six mobile home parks
in California and one in Washington agreed to pay more than $2
million in damages to families who were discouraged from living in
the parks or forced to live under different rules.
     On Monday a city in northern California agreed to pay more
than $90,000 in damages under a settlement reached with the Justice
Department after it was found to have penalized the owner of a
mobile home park for letting families with children live there.  
     Families with children who resided, or were deterred from
applying for residence in any of the properties listed or in the
use of the services of Computerized, The Rental Company should call
the Northwest Fair Housing Alliance at (509) 838-4710 or the
Housing Section of the Justice Department at (202) 514-6161. 
Individuals who believe they may have been victims of housing
discrimination anywhere else in the country should call either the
Justice Department at (202) 514-4713 or the Department of Housing
and Urban Development's Fair Housing Hotline at 1-800-669-9777.
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