City Under Investigation for Housing Discrimination

HUD claims that Manassas, Virginia, illegally targeted Hispanic households and the city has failed to settle complaints over an ordinance regarding overcrowding. The ordinance has since been repealed.

1 minute read

October 9, 2006, 9:00 AM PDT

By maryereynolds


Department of Housing and Urban Development officials claim that a campaign by Manassas against crowded housing has illegally targeted Hispanic families; and they have turned their investigation over to the Justice Department, saying the city has failed to adequately settle complaints. According to HUD, 342 complaints were made to the city's "overcrowding hotline" before the investigation began, and more than half turned up no violations. Of the 145 calls that resulted in violations, 71 percent involved families with Hispanic surnames, although only 15 percent of the city's population is Hispanic.

HUD's investigation focused on anti-crowding measures initiated by the city over the past two years. Those included a hotline that allowed residents to anonymously file a complaint about neighbors they suspected of violating city ordinances and an ordinance that narrowed the legal definition of "family." That ordinance was repealed in January under threats from civil rights groups and concerns about a federal investigation. According to Kent Willis, Executive Director of the ACLU of Virginia: "If the judge or jury determines that the City of Manassas conspired to discriminate against Latino families, the punitive damages could be hefty."

Friday, October 6, 2006 in The Washington Post

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

White and purple sign for Slow Street in San Francisco, California with people crossing crosswalk.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths

Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

July 1, 2025 - KQED

Google street view of red brick multi-story power plant building in Pittsburgh, PA.

Defunct Pittsburgh Power Plant to Become Residential Tower

A decommissioned steam heat plant will be redeveloped into almost 100 affordable housing units.

July 4 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Cyclist on protected bike lane in middle of street in Washington D.C. with Washington Monument obelisk visible in background.

Trump Prompts Restructuring of Transportation Research Board in “Unprecedented Overreach”

The TRB has eliminated more than half of its committees including those focused on climate, equity, and cities.

July 4 - Streetsblog USA

Blue and silver Amtrak train at small station.

Amtrak Rolls Out New Orleans to Alabama “Mardi Gras” Train

The new service will operate morning and evening departures between Mobile and New Orleans.

July 3 - New Orleans City Business