Lakewood apartment complex agrees to pay $75K in discrimination case

A 28-unit apartment complex in Lakewood will pay $75,000 to settle claims that it discriminated against families with children, according to the DOJ.

staff photo
Megan Arellano

A 28-unit apartment complex in Lakewood will pay $75,000 to settle claims that it discriminated against families with children, according to a press release from the Department of Justice. 

The owners and manager of the Westland Apartments were accused of steering families with kids to the back of their building.

“Discrimination against families with children hurts Colorado children and is not only unjustified, it is illegal,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado John Walsh in the release.

The settlement still has to be approved by Colorado’s district court. But if approved, $25,000 will go compensate victims, $45,000 will go to Denver Metro Fair Housing Center, the nonprofit that filed the lawsuit, plus a $5,000 fine.

Westland Apartments will also be required to implement new nondiscriminatory practices and will be monitored for the next three years under the settlement.

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Tagged

fair housing act, Streetsblog Denver, housing, hi-dive, discrimination, mike johnston, lakewood