Housing Works and the Fair Housing Justice Center have filed a suit against five New York City realty companies and one landlord for discriminating against NYC residents living with AIDS, according to a statement released by Housing Works. The lawsuit alleges that the companies—Manhattan Apartments, Abba Realty Associates, Soni Realty, Askarinam Realty and Kimberly Place Realty—discriminated against prospective renters with HIV/AIDS by refusing to show apartments, segregating listings according to income and saying landlords would not rent to disabled people who don’t work or renters who have housing subsidies. Federal, state and local laws prohibit discrimination based on disability and lawful source of income, including HIV/AIDS Services Administration subsidies. Plaintiffs are seeking compensatory and punitive damages and an order requiring the companies to implement nondiscriminatory practices.

To read the Housing Works statement, click here.