U.S. Attorney Keefe Launches Initiative To Combat Sexual Harassment In Housing

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida,
today announced that his office will use all the tools at its disposal to pursue landlords who
attempt to use the COVID-19 crisis to sexually harass their tenants. Keefe urged anyone who faces
such harassment while trying to defer housing payments to contact the Justice Department’s Sexual
Harassment in Housing Initiative at 1-844-380-6178.

“The COVID-19 crisis has brought out the best in most Americans, but the worst in some. We will
vigorously pursue anyone seeking to capitalize on the current crisis by sexually harassing people
facing housing challenges,” Keefe said. “Such despicable and unscrupulous behavior is illegal in
normal times, and it certainly will not be tolerated now.”

Keefe said his office will work with all appropriate federal, state, and local authorities on this
issue. In addition to reporting to the Justice Department, individuals may report housing-related
sexual harassment locally. The Justice Department and U.S. Attorney’s Office stand ready to take
aggressive action against this misconduct whenever it occurs.

If you think you are a victim of sexual harassment by a landlord or other person who has control
over housing resulting from the COVID-19 crisis, contact:
o Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative at 1-844-380-6178
o Email:  fairhousing@usdoj.gov
o Local  authorities

For more information: www.justice.gov/crt/sexual-harassment-housing-initiative 

Spanish language webpage: www.justice.gov/crt-espanol/iniciativa-en-contra-del-acoso-sexual-en-la-vivienda 

More facts on how to report sexual harassment in housing:
www.justice.gov/crt/page/file/1048341/download

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that
serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access
available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern
District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Att rney’s Office,
Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html