AG Coakley settles housing discrimination case

The office of Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley (right) said today that it has settled a housing discrimination case that involves how the expense of a service animal is factored into determining rent payments under a state voucher program for a tenant with disabilities.

Under the settlement reached earlier this week, the Greenfield Housing Authority and the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development, or the DHCD, have agreed to pay $6,000 in damages to the victim, who requires a specially trained dog to help her perform daily tasks "due to mobility disabilities," Coakley's office said.

In a press release, Coakley's office said that the settlement resolves claims that the Greenfield Housing Authority "improperly denied requests" by the tenant to treat expenses for the care of her service animal as deductible under the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program.

That program, which is administered by housing authorities and regulated by the DHCD, determines how much rent a tenant must pay based on the tenant’s gross household income, said Coakley's office, which added that DHCD regulations permit tenants to deduct from their income the cost of necessary medical expenses that are not covered by insurance or otherwise reimbursed.

Coakley said in a statement: “Tenants with disabilities who rely on service animals to assist them with their daily lives are entitled to the same treatment and benefits as other tenants. We appreciate DHCD’s working with our office to implement a new policy that clarifies this important standard which will help to ensure fair and equal access for participants in state rental assistance programs.”

Under the agreement, DHCD will publish the new policy regarding the deductibility of service animal expenses, ensure that housing authorities are aware of the policy, and provide ongoing assistance to housing authorities in implementing the policy, Coakley's office said.
(By Chris Reidy, Globe staff)