WASHINGTON –  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson announced that the Department has reached a Conciliation Agreement with Vintage Housing, Inc., and Wilhoit Properties, Inc, the owner and manager of Cardinal Heights and Carriage Crossing senior apartments in Collinsville and Coweta, Oklahoma, resolving allegations that they removed Bibles and Christian reading material from the properties’ common areas. 

Under the settlement, the housing providers agreed, among other things, to develop new policies regarding the display of religious materials for use in all the residences they manage or own and provide  fair housing training for employees, with a portion dedicated to religious discrimination.

The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing and in housing-related services based on religion and other protected characteristics. The complaint, filed on behalf of Carson in October 2020, followed a letter to HUD from a resident at the Carriage Crossing apartment complex who was upset that the property’s management demanded the removal of religious material from common spaces.

Persons who believe they have experienced housing discrimination may file a complaint of discrimination by contacting HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity at 800-669-9777 or visiting HUD’s website.