On July 27, 2022, the Denton Housing Authority (“DHA”) filed an administrative Fair Housing Act (“FHA”) complaint with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) alleging that a Dallas-area homeowners association and its management company discriminated on the basis of race and other protected classes when they adopted and enforced a new policy barring rentals to families assisted under HUD’s Housing Choice Voucher program. Of the 157 Voucher households affected, 93% were black families.
Through its Chief Executive Officer, Sherri McDade, DHA advised Voucher holders of their rights under state and federal law, including their rights to file housing discrimination complaints with HUD. In addition to the DHA complaint; additional housing discrimination complaints were filed by Voucher households and by their landlords, all of whom were injured by the new policy they alleged was motivated by animus against persons protected under the FHA.
There was substantial national press coverage of PHOA’s actions, including by HBO’s John Oliver (at 11:03 of the segment). PHOA agreed not to enforce the policy while federal investigations were pending. However, in 2024, it adopted a new policy that restricted landlords from renting more than one property and limited the number of rental units to 25 percent of the lots in Providence Village. These new policies also limit renters’ access to housing and HUD found that they violated the HOA’s agreement not to enforce the earlier policy.
On January 14, 2025, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban (“HUD”) issued a determination that the Providence Homeowners Association, Inc. (“PHOA”), its property management company, First Service Residential Texas, Inc. (“FirstService”), its property manager and president of PHOA violated the Fair Housing Act by engaging in intentional discrimination based on race and color against Section 8 Voucher holders.
A copy of the complaint can be found here. A copy of the HUD Charge can be found here, and a copy of the HUD Determination can be found here.