Q: I'm mentally disabled verified with my doctors letter for each 6 emotional support animals but city limits is 3
I live in a homeless shelter that helps get housing but they don't tell the matches they found for me that I have sex emotional support animals so I keep getting denied and even more the homeless shelter say I'm refusing the housing and so they're trying to kick me out the shelter when have lived here 3 years with my cats and been compliant with everything they asked from me and explain I'm not refusing I'm getting denied and it seems like they want me to apply to apartments without telling them how many emotional support animals I have so when they deny me it looks like I'm refusing but in my letter for my emotional support animals the doctor clearly states I need my emotional support animals for my mental health.
My question is that is the city ordinance for pet limitation to three overrule my need for my emotional support animals or does that count as denied a place to rent because of my disability?
A: It seems unusual your physician insist you need six animals. Your ability to care for six animals would also be considered.
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- California
- (916) 704-3009
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A:
Under California law, emotional support animals (ESAs) are generally considered a reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities, which means that housing providers should make exceptions to pet limitations, including city ordinances, when it comes to ESAs. However, the law requires that these accommodations are reasonable, and multiple animals might be seen as unreasonable depending on the circumstances.
If you are being denied housing because of your need for more than the city’s limit of three ESAs, it could be seen as discrimination based on your disability. You have the right to request a reasonable accommodation from potential landlords, and they are required to engage in an interactive process with you to find a solution.
If the homeless shelter is not supporting your need for these accommodations or is inaccurately representing your situation as refusing housing, this might also be a violation of your rights. You may want to seek legal advice or contact a local disability rights organization for support in addressing this situation and ensuring your rights are respected.
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