July 10, 2025 Your Source for Brentwood News

Los Angeles Agrees to $38.2 Million Settlement Over HUD Accessibility Violations in Affordable Housing

City Settles Federal Allegations of Failing to Meet Accessibility Standards

Officials announced that the City of Los Angeles has agreed to a $38.2 million settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice to resolve allegations that it failed to comply with federal accessibility requirements while using Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant funds for affordable multifamily housing projects.

The settlement follows a 2017 whistleblower lawsuit in which the U.S. government intervened. The lawsuit alleges that for over a decade, Los Angeles knowingly violated federal laws by not ensuring that the housing it built or rehabilitated with HUD funds was accessible to people with disabilities. The lawsuit claims that the city falsely certified its compliance with these requirements to HUD annually.

“Municipalities receiving federal grant money for affordable and accessible housing must comply with federal law and honor the rights of people with disabilities,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Joseph T. McNally. He emphasized that the substantial settlement underscores the commitment to ensuring that recipients of federal funds adhere to legal obligations.

The U.S. government argued that the city’s violations included structural failures, such as steep slopes, high counters, and inaccessible thresholds for wheelchair users. Additionally, the city was accused of not maintaining a publicly available list of accessible units and failing to designate an employee to coordinate accessibility efforts as required by federal law.

“By failing to make certain that HUD-funded multifamily housing met federal accessibility requirements, the city discriminated against people with disabilities,” said HUD Inspector General Rae Oliver Davis. She added that the settlement represents a renewed effort to collaborate with Los Angeles in addressing the city’s housing needs.

The $38.2 million settlement resolves the lawsuit under the False Claims Act, which allows private parties to sue on behalf of the government and share in any recovery. The case was initiated by a Los Angeles resident who uses a wheelchair and the Fair Housing Council of San Fernando Valley, a nonprofit disability rights advocacy group. A portion of the settlement may be awarded to these parties, though the amount has not yet been determined.

This settlement follows a 2020 agreement in which the U.S. government secured $3.1 million from another defendant in the same case, CRA/LA, the successor of the City of Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency.

The Department of Justice’s Civil Division, along with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California and HUD’s Office of Inspector General, led the investigation and litigation of the case.

The settlement resolves the allegations, but there has been no determination of liability.

Related Posts

New Agenda Coaching: Changing Lives in LA

July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025

Students Work Toward Applied Success with Executive Function Coaching Services The demands of daily routines and studies sometimes bear weight...

Unmasking ICE: Senators Push for Visible IDs After Secretive LA Immigration Raids

July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025

Bill Requires Federal Agents to Display Visible Identification During Raids U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) on...

Bacio di Latte’s Beverly Hills Gelateria Debut Blends Italian Tradition with California Cool

July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025

Gelateria Features In-House Gelato, Espresso Drinks, and Decadent Signature Flavors Bacio di Latte has officially opened its latest U.S. flagship...

Housing for Health Chief Appointed to Lead Unified Homeless Services Department

July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025

Veteran Housing Advocate to Oversee Streamlined LA County Services The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday confirmed the...

Brentwood Feels Impact as Feds Slash Office Leases Across Los Angeles

July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025

New Tracker Reveals Over 70,000 Square Feet Cut in 2025 Alone Los Angeles County’s office market is experiencing a fresh...

One Last Bite: La Novia Bids Farewell with Final Pop-Up at Cardinale du Vin

July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025

Inventive Latin-Asian Pop-up Serves Seasonal Small Plates for One-Night-Only La Novia, the pop-up kitchen known for its inventive Latin-Asian flavors,...

Interview: The Dinah Creator Mariah Hanson on Legacy, Change, and the Future of Queer Celebration

July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025

After 34 Groundbreaking Years, Hanson Reflects on Joy, Power, and Her Final Dinah  We spoke with Mariah Hanson, the creator...

Change in LAPD Coverage for Brentwood Residents as Officer Kirk Takes Leave

July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025

Officer Kirk on Vacation Until Late July—Here’s Who to Contact Los Angeles Police Department Senior Lead Officer Matthew Kirk will...

Shore Hotel: A Local Destination for Summer Fun

July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025

Bring on all things summer. Walking or biking along Santa Monica Pier, you might find yourself taking a pause at...

Governor Newsom Unveils Fast-Track Rebuilding Plan on Six-Month Anniversary of Palisades Fire

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

State Clears Over 5.5 Billion Pounds of Debris From Fires Ahead of Schedule Marking six months since the devastating Eaton...

Soprano Golda Zahra Returns to BroadStage For a One-Night-Only Musical Celebration

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

Hailed as “the rising star of the opera world” by The Hollywood Times, internationally acclaimed soprano Golda Zahra makes her much-anticipated return to BroadStage in...

Transform Your Life: The Free Virtual ONENESS GLOBAL SUMMIT Debuts July 18-20, 2025

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

The ONENESS GLOBAL SUMMIT, a transformative three-day virtual event, is coming, July 18-20, 2025, offering participants worldwide a free opportunity...

Ben Affleck Allegedly Spotted House-Hunting in Brentwood Actor Tours Homes Near Ex-Wife

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

The Oscar Winner Was Seen Leaving His Office and Then Checking Out Luxury Listings Ben Affleck was seen appearing tense...

Bel Air and Holmby Hills Estates Lead May’s List of America’s Top 10 Home Sales

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

LA Claims Two of the Top Three Luxury Home Sales Last Month Breaking into the nine-figure range, a recently sold...

Michael Madsen, Star of Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill, Dies at 67 in Malibu

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

Actor Remembered for His Intense Performances and as a Poet  Actor Michael Madsen, known for his distinctive gravelly voice and...