DOJ Sues Missouri Housing Authority for Alleged Sexual Harassment by Former Director

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a lawsuit against the Housing Authority of the City of Bloomfield, Missouri, and its former executive director, Eddie Joe Hankins, alleging violations of the Fair Housing Act due to sexual harassment of a female housing applicant. (justice.gov)

In 2021, a woman with three children applied for public housing in Bloomfield. After her application was denied, she met with Hankins, who allegedly made unwanted sexual advances, including inappropriate comments about her appearance and conditioning housing assistance on her acquiescence to his conduct. When she resisted, Hankins purportedly refused to assist her further. (justice.gov)

The woman filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which investigated and found that the Housing Authority and Hankins had discriminated against her, violating the Fair Housing Act. After she opted for the matter to be decided in federal court, HUD referred the case to the DOJ. (justice.gov)

The lawsuit seeks monetary damages for the victim and a court order to prevent future discrimination. Notably, Hankins had previously pleaded guilty in October 2021 to a charge of first-degree harassment related to this incident, resulting in a four-year prison sentence. (kfvs12.com)

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division stated, "There is no place in America for public officials who abuse their trust to coerce sexual acts from the people they are duty-bound to help, be it in public housing or other areas. We will hold them accountable." (justice.gov)

This case underscores the federal government's commitment to enforcing fair housing laws and addressing sexual harassment within public housing systems. Since launching the Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative in October 2017, the DOJ has filed 50 lawsuits alleging sexual harassment in housing and recovered nearly $16.2 million for victims. (justice.gov)

The lawsuit highlights the vulnerability of low-income individuals seeking public housing and the potential for abuse by those in positions of authority. It also emphasizes the importance of robust oversight and accountability mechanisms within public housing authorities to prevent such misconduct.

The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or disability. Sexual harassment is recognized as a form of sex discrimination under this Act.

The DOJ's lawsuit against the Bloomfield Housing Authority and Eddie Joe Hankins serves as a significant reminder of the ongoing efforts to uphold fair housing standards and protect individuals from sexual harassment within public housing systems.