Her apartment manager had the wrong information about support animals. We cleared up the confusion. #AdvocacyMatters
June 8, 2018
Margie's emotional support dog is an important part of her life. When she moved into her new apartment, the apartment complex manager told her she would have to pay an extra $200 deposit. She knew that wasn't right, but her attempts at self-advocacy were unsuccessful, so Margie called DRO for support.
A DRO attorney called the apartment manager directly. He told her that the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development have said for years that charging such fees violates the Fair Housing Act. The manager was very gracious, explaining that she'd gotten a confusing flier from the Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) that seemed to indicate that she could charge such fees. She said the apartment complex would immediately change its policy and notify OHFA of the problem with its flier.
One call from DRO got Margie's dog by her side, right where it belongs. And thanks to Margie's self-advocacy, other people with disabilities may face one less barrier to getting the emotional support animal they need.
Many people with disabilities find that getting housing accommodations can be challenging. Understanding your rights can help. Find more information about housing rights on the Housing page of our Self-Advocacy Resource Center.
Have you seen our new blog?
DRO's new blog launched this week! In our first installment, read about our Client Advocacy Program, which can help you if you have problems with your vocational rehabilitation services.