Fair Housing

A federal judge allowed a lawsuit to move forward with its accusations that one of Northeast Florida’s largest landlords used faulty algorithms to discriminate against Black renters, giving the green light for a jury trial that could set precedents for civil rights law. In an order issued last week, U.S. District Judge Wendy Berger denied Jacksonville Wealth Builders’ motion to dismiss. JWB Property Management LLC, which rents out and manages thousands of homes in Duval County, and JWB Real Estate Capital LLC, which owns those properties, are being sued by four Jacksonville residents. Those plaintiffs are seeking to represent a larger class of Black rental applicants denied leases by JWB in recent years. Jacksonville Area Legal Aid filed the lawsuit, presenting a novel legal argument grounded in the 1968 Fair Housing Act, which The Tributary previously covered. The plaintiffs argue that JWB has slanted the housing market against Black people in Jacksonville through its use of “tenant screening services,” a type of background-checking software used by landlords across the country to decide whether to accept aspiring tenants.

Last year, thousands of eviction notices were filed in Jacksonville as families struggle to make ends meet. The new program helping families avoid eviction and the other resources available to you.

Abandoned homes, sometimes called “zombies”, are infecting local neighborhoods. During the housing recession of 2008, many homes got stuck in foreclosure limbo. In Florida the process can take years and impact surrounding property value if the houses sit abandoned for long. Early forecasts show zombies could come back to life in Jacksonville. North of downtown Jacksonville, Jeanette Williams has seen the problem firsthand. She’s not worried about her house, but the one a few doors down. “It’s been sitting there a long time. It’s been sitting there since I moved in,” Williams said. She was outside with her grandkids on an April afternoon. “That’s what I worry about — them.”

It’s something we don’t hear a lot about when you try to get into housing here in Jacksonville: Have you been discriminated against? Are you discriminated against because of the amount of money you make because of your race because of your sexuality? These are things that Jacksonville Area Legal Aid is trying to change. Affordable housing is a key issue in Jacksonville. There is lots of competition for homes and some apartments. But is it fair competition? News4JAX has been out talking to people looking for housing and asking if they feel their race or other factors are keeping them out of areas, they want to live in. One woman who didn’t want to be identified had plenty to say. “So it is, it depends on where you go in if you’re in, if you try to rent a house and maybe a Mandarin, they won’t rent to people. And if you do, you can’t afford it,” she said.

The dedicated housing counselors at JALA have proactively safeguarded 115 homes from foreclosure through a combination of loss mitigation options and rescue funds. Additionally, we have assisted numerous homeowners in comprehending their rights and evaluating alternatives to prevent foreclosure, ensuring favorable outcomes for their unique situations. By providing borrowers with essential information, we empower them to make informed decisions about their next steps, fostering successful homeownership both now and in the future. Our foreclosure prevention efforts extend support to families facing the challenges of losing a home, especially when no loss mitigation options or funds are available. While our primary focus is on preserving homes from foreclosure, we have also played a crucial role in aiding renters by equipping them with valuable information to help them maintain their residences. As a legal aid, we take pride in our role of saving homes, recognizing that our success is greatly amplified through the invaluable guidance and partnership with JALA attorneys.