Tenants Claim Evictions Tied to Having Kids
The Fair Housing Authority is investigating whether discrimination was involved when three families were served with 30-day eviction notices at Villa Boccali Apartments.
A complaint was filed with the authority this week, claiming that the families at the Redwood Avenue apartments were being evicted without adequate warning. All three families that were served eviction papers have children.
For the record:
12:00 a.m. May 28, 1998 For the Record
Los Angeles Times Thursday May 28, 1998 Ventura County Edition Metro Part B Page 5 Zones Desk 2 inches; 45 words Type of Material: Correction
Housing investigation--An article May 7 incorrectly identified the organization investigating alleged discrimination at Villa Boccali Apartments in Ventura. It is the nonprofit Fair Housing Institute, which has a contract with Ventura County to help place people in affordable housing and address their complaints.
“You cannot discriminate against tenants on the basis that they have children,” said authority attorney Ruth Seroussi. “Familial status discrimination is illegal.”
Managers Diane and Craig Valentine could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
One of the evicted residents, Larry Brixey, said all three families were given notice April 28.
“They just threw the 30-day notice at our door and ran like cowards,” said Brixey, who has a 4-year-old daughter.
“When confronted, they said they don’t have to give us a reason.”
Brixey and another tenant, Darcy Gendreau, protested in front of the complex Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m., carrying signs that read “Families Evicted for No Reason” and “They Rented to Kids and Now They Don’t Want Them.”
“All I want is a nice, safe place for my child to live,” Brixey said.
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