October 17, 2023
WASHINGTON, DC – We recently announced the filing of a federal civil rights complaint against the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”). The complaint, filed on behalf of Plaintiff Mustafa Ak, alleges that HUD unlawfully discriminated against Mr. Ak on the basis of his ethnicity and national origin in its administration of a federally-financed program.
Mr. Ak, a dedicated police officer and a Muslim male, sought to participate in HUD’s Good Neighbor Next Door (GNND) Sales Program. This federal initiative allows law enforcement officers, teachers, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians the opportunity to purchase homes at a 50% discount. According to the complaint, HUD initially allowed Mr. Ak to proceed with the purchase of a home under the GNND Sales Program, but then later rescinded the offer citing Mr. Ak’s alleged ineligibility under a specific regulation (i.e., 24 C.F.R. § 291.520(c)). Yet, evidence obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request revealed that HUD allowed other officers to participate in the GNND Sales Program despite their ineligibility under the same regulatory provision.