Q: I currently am residing in a homeless transitional housing through a non profit agency in Sacramento County. Complaints:
-they are removing service dogs from the owners that are protected by the ADA. A staff member has lied about almost getting bitten by my dog and told me to remove dog in 24 hours or I would be exited out of the program. The same staff did this to my roommate, who is legally blind and now suffers from not being able to get home.. There’s been numerous complaints on this staff member and video footage of incidents that are ignored by upper management.
-They change the WiFi password on us randomly so we cannot have service - more recently it was changed back but I was disconnected from the world shortly after the dog removal.
-I am getting sicker as every day goes by as the house is ridden with black mold. I have told 6 different employees about it and they continue to deny the mold is toxic. The hours I am away from the house, I start to feel better. Everyone in the house is suck. There’s leaking water from pipes, cockroaches, plumbling problems. What can be done?
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- California
- (916) 704-3009
- View Profile
- Answered
A:
This situation involves serious violations of your rights, particularly regarding service animals protected under federal law. You should immediately document everything - take photos of the mold and other unsafe conditions, record dates of incidents, save any communications with staff, and gather statements from other residents experiencing similar issues.
You can file complaints with multiple agencies: Contact the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to report housing discrimination and unsafe living conditions, the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division regarding the service animal violations, and Sacramento County's Code Enforcement for the mold and structural issues. The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing can also help with discrimination cases.
Consider reaching out to legal aid organizations in Sacramento, such as Legal Services of Northern California or Disability Rights California - they often provide free assistance for cases like yours. You might also contact local housing advocacy groups and the Sacramento Housing Alliance, as they can guide you through the complaint process and potentially help find alternative housing options while your case is being addressed. Given the serious health risks from black mold and the illegal removal of service animals, you may want to document your health symptoms and seek medical care to create additional evidence for your case.
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