Omaha, NE – A recent lawsuit has leveled serious allegations against the Omaha Housing Authority (OVA), accusing the agency of systematic violations of the rights of its low-income tenants over the past seven years. Filed on behalf of current and former tenants, the class-action suit claims the public housing provider not only overcharged for rent but also unjustly denied tenants the opportunity to contest rent increases.
The lawsuit, supported by the Creighton University’s Abrahams Legal Clinic, local law firm Car & Reinbrecht, and the National Housing Law Project based in San Francisco, seeks restitution for overcharges and demands that OHA revamp its policies. These revisions would aim to better inform tenants of their legal rights to challenge rent hikes and apply for rent exemptions under federal law.
Diane Uchimiya, director of Creighton’s Abrahams Legal Clinic, emphasized the detrimental effect of these alleged practices on tenants. According to Uchimiya, the lawsuit seeks to rectify the injustices tenants have endured which range from unfair rent and late fees to illegal eviction attempts.
Joanie Poore, CEO of the Omaha Housing Authority, has not commented on the case due to its ongoing status. However, the allegations are severe, asserting that some tenants faced eviction rather than receiving the rent exemptions they were entitled to, pushing them perilously close to homelessness.
These allegations were first highlighted in a Flatwater Free Press investigation last December, which helped bring wider attention to the potential abuses. This exposure has played a critical role in the recent escalation to legal action.
Central to the lawsuit is the claim that OHA failed to notify tenants adequately of their right to dispute rent changes as mandated by federal law. This crucial grievance right was notably absent in at least one tenant’s notification letter, which former Creighton clinic director Kate Mahern encountered while representing tenants.
This exposure of the wrongdoing led to changes in OHA’s notification procedures, although for tenants like Rhonda Moses, one of the named plaintiffs, these changes came too late. Despite the omission being rectified and the eviction against her dropped, Moses moved out, distrusting that the organization would not attempt to evict her in the future. She feels the cumulative overcharges over the years have significantly impacted her financial stability.
The broader implications of the lawsuit are still unfolding. With potentially thousands of current and former tenants affected, the final tally and impact on the community could be extensive. Advocates for the tenants are hoping for a settlement but are prepared to take the case to trial to ensure rights and compensations are fully addressed.
The Omaha Housing Authority is tasked with the vital role of providing affordable housing to the city’s low-income residents. This lawsuit places the agency’s practices under scrutiny and highlights the ongoing struggle for tenant rights in the national spotlight. How OHA responds to these allegations and adjusts its practices will likely serve as a precedent for public housing authorities elsewhere. This case not only represents a significant challenge to OHA but also a critical reference point for housing law enforcement nationwide.