Michigan Property Management Company Settles Discrimination Against Abused Women

According to a press release from the American Civil Liberties Union a property management company located in Detroit, Michigan has settled a lawsuit alleging discrimination against survivors of domestic violence. The ACLU filed the lawsuit in federal court against Management Systems, Inc. and the housing complex North End Village on behalf of Tanicia Lewis. Management Systems manages fifty properties in Michigan and Ohio including North End Village where Tanicia Lewis formerly resided.

The civil rights group claims that Management Systems, Inc. engaged in sexual discrimination, violating the Federal Fair Housing Act, when the company evicted Lewis from her home after her ex-boyfriend broke the windows of her home and kicked in her front door. Lewis had previously filed for and had been awarded an order of protection against her former boyfriend, Reuben Thomas. Lewis notified police of Thomas' actions; he was later found guilty of home invasion.

Management Systems, Inc. then issued Lewis a 30 day notice of eviction. The company reportedly justified their actions by claiming Lewis had violated part of her lease that required her to assume responsibility for behavior of her guests. The company classified Thomas as Lewis' guest despite her protection order against him and in spite of the fact that he did not have permission to enter her home or property.

The ACLU took care to point out the link between domestic violence and homelessness citing a study held by an anti-discrimination group in 2005. The study found that 28% of New Yorks landlords outright refused to rent properties to victims of domestic violence. The civil rights group also cited studies whose results claimed that 50 percent of surveyed cities felt domestic violence was a leading factor contributing to homelessness.

The ACLU believes that the alleged housing discrimination aggravates the problem of Domestic Violence in America. Kary Moss, Executive Director of the ACLU of Michigan stated: "When victims know that they may face eviction if a landlord finds out about the abuse, they are less likely to seek this assistance and more likely to submit to the abuse."

In the settlement Management Systems, Inc. and the North End Village complex have agreed to not evict tenants due to being victims of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking or sexual assault. The company and complex have also gone a step further and agreed to offer victims of these crimes early lease termination and / or relocation if the victims' safety required them to leave their homes.

Lewis expressed dismay over Management Systems decision to evict her. She felt that notifying the company of her protection order and notifying the police of Thomas' crime was something she should do to keep her family safe, and instead ended up homeless and staying in a shelter with her two young children. The settlement brought her hope though. "I hope other women in private housing who are brave enough to come forward about their abusers don't suffer the same way." Lewis said. Now, at least some of them will not have to.