City of Anoka harmed residents with mental illness, DOJ lawsuit alleges

The City of Anoka discouraged and prevented renters with mental illness from making emergency calls, including during a medical or mental health crisis, for fear of eviction, according to Department of Justice lawsuit filed Tuesday against the city.

The city is accused of discriminating against individuals with mental health disabilities via its rental licensing and "crime free" housing ordinance, through which city leaders could penalize landlords for police calls to their properties.

The DOJ in November announced its investigation had found renters with mental health disabilities and those associated with them, such as family members and landlords, risked eviction, fines or loss of a rental license for requesting or receiving emergency services because of the city's nuisance ordinance.

The DOJ alleges that the Anoka administration for years shared details of emergency calls with landlords, including information about renters' diagnoses, medications, psychiatric or medical providers and attempted suicide.

The city then used such reports to warn landlords of potential "nuisance calls" and encourage evictions, the DOJ alleges.

In one example detailed in the lawsuit, police responded to an apartment multiple times over three days because a tenant with a mental health disability was experiencing delusions, including hearing voices in the hallway where no one was present and believing someone had hacked their phone.

The city subsequently sent a letter to the tenant's landlord instructing the landlord to evict the tenant for violating the city's nuisance ordinance.

The lawsuit also states one complainant told DOJ investigators "she has refrained from calling emergency services while feeling suicidal" because of the effect the city's reports could have on her current and future housing prospects.

"Multiple tenants were evicted due at least in part to calls for emergency service related to their mental health disabilities," the lawsuit reads.

Under a proposed consent decree to resolve the allegations, the city has agreed to pay a total of $175,000 to compensate those harmed by the program.

The agreement, which must be approved by the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, would also bind to city to the following actions:

• End its practice of publicizing the disability, medical and health information of individuals with mental health disabilities.
• Adopt non-discrimination policies and complaint procedures.
• Notify landlords, property owners and tenants of changes to the program.
• Designate an ADA coordinator.
• Train staff and provide reports to the department during a monitoring period.

Bring Me The News has reached out to the city of Anoka for comment.

If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255). You can also text MN to 741741.