SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A statewide fair housing settlement announced by the California Civil Rights Department will require Village at Redondo and Lyon Management Group to end blanket policies that bar people with criminal histories from renting, a practice state officials say violates civil rights law and deepens housing inequality across California.
The settlement follows fair housing testing funded by the department that identified evidence of potential discrimination against rental applicants with criminal histories at a Redondo Beach property in Los Angeles County. Lyon Management Group manages more than two dozen apartment complexes statewide, giving the agreement implications well beyond a single property.
“Everyone deserves to have a place to call home,” said Civil Rights Department Director Kevin Kish. “Automatically rejecting renters because of irrelevant arrests or convictions is incompatible with our state’s civil rights protections. We can all contribute to public safety by making sure everyone has a fair chance at making a living or having a place to live. Housing stability is a critical first step to ensure people can reintegrate into their communities.”…