Broward County Governmental Center

Terry Brewer

On Friday, February 26, 2016, around 11:18 AM, I went to Camden Las Olas apartments and spoke with Jason Read to inquire about the rental and ask if they took section 8 vouchers. But instead, I was told that they didn't accept housing vouchers, and he racially steered me to a neighborhood on the opposite side of the railroad tracks, Regal Trace. The representative from Camden Las Olas was so shocked to hear that I wanted to move in with a housing voucher. I believe that someone communicated my intentions to Broward County and the Housing Authority of the City of Fort Lauderdale. Shortly after I visited Camden Las Olas Apartments, the City of Fort Lauderdale and Broward county started making egregious actions to kick and keep me out of the section 8 housing program to keep me from moving into a predominantly white community; with an exception to payment standard waiving the rental cap with housing vouchers, fearing that a flood of blacks would follow. By June 2016, they had gotten their wish by denying an extension to my housing voucher. On Wednesday, July 20, 2016, at 9:03 AM, I had an informal review with the City of Fort Lauderdale's Housing Authority, overseen by the Broward County Housing Authority. However, I complained that Broward Housing violated my due process rights by misleading statements, steering from officially recording unlawful acts, and intentional discrimination by the Housing Authority of Fort Lauderdale. On August 24, 2016, I spoke with Ms. Tabitha Stevens-Allan (Broward County's Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and Professional Standards – Human Rights Section) for 23 mins, who stated at the time that she was writing my phone statement and would forward my statement via email. The phone interview took a sharp turn; the moment I included the Broward County Housing Authority, I was immediately interrupted by Ms. Stevens - Allan who stated, "well, we don't need to mention Broward" I begged to differ with Ms. Stevens-Alan, I was only stating factual information. Ms. Stevens - Allan said that she noted everything and would be sending an email to me to sign my statement. After 4 hours and two attempts to reach Ms. Stevens - Allan, I received a blank email containing a blank housing discrimination form. Her actions suggested that they covered up my claim over the phone by sending me a blank form as if I asked for a blank form inquiring about the filing process. Later within the month, I received a text message from Carol Powell-Phillips that seemed to be a warning regarding my complaint. However, the notification suggested that Ms. Stevens-Allan visit the Broward County Commissions Office to brief them on a possible escalation with my claim that could have triggered a HUD multijurisdictional investigation. In a Winter 2000 American Bar Association article, Journal of Affordable Housing, titled: HUD Multijurisdictional Investigations: New Risky Business, written by: F. Willis Caruso "A multijurisdictional investigation means all departments of HUD may look into each of the programs that might support or affect development, including all agreements, contracts, grants, and funding sources of any kind. Such an inquiry could be, in effect, open-ended... HUD's approach has been to make clear that voluntary compliance is desirable, with emphasis on the role of HUD's holding the purse strings for programs that are critical to the respondents." With a situation this serious, I can not imagine that my county commissioner, and at the time Vice Mayor Dale Holness, was not made aware of a possible HUD investigation involving Broward County. I can only express feelings of numbness, hopelessness, and disappointment with my local government. I am swimming in a riptide of financial and emotional debt due to these malicious actions by Broward County and the City of Fort Lauderdale to keep me from moving into a predominantly white neighborhood with a section 8 housing voucher.

thenaturalboxer

A mess of a place. No one really knows what they do. They don't offer half the services they advertise. I'll avoid at all costs in the future. Call before going to the building, which is nearly impossible to get to considering the awful city planning. (The planner should be fired.).

Iñaki Haritzaskaldea

Not the warmest place on Earth, it's got very dark and musty hallways. I feel like I'm visiting a prison or correction facility. Really not a welcoming place at all, must not be the nicest place for such a nice County. I really enjoy Broward County, I'm just speaking as to the building.

Thomas W Burns Jr

Went to classes all day. Fun times