Chicopee Housing Authority settles federal lawsuit, director to resign

CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – The Chicopee Housing Authority (CHA) and its former Executive Director have come to an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice in a discrimination lawsuit.

According to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) investigators, the CHA and its Director, Monica Blazic, are alleged to have discriminated against CHA tenants based on race, national origin, or disability.

Court documents reveal that complaints were filed against CHA and Blazic for denying “reasonable accommodations” to tenants seeking to move to first floor or elevator-accessible units for medical issues. It is also alleged that Blazic made discriminatory statements about and to Black and Hispanic tenants, including using racial slurs and other derogatory language.

Per the agreement, CHA will pay $434,000 in compensation to tenants impacted by the discrimination, pay a $25,000 civil penalty to the U.S. government, hire a Disability Rights Coordinator, create new discrimination complaint procedures and employee training, implement policies for handling tenant requests for reasonable accommodations and transfers, and build nine new accessible housing units for persons with disabilities.

Additionally, Monica Blazic will resign by the end of 2024 and will no longer be involved in any way with the CHA.

“It is completely unacceptable for public housing officials to discriminate based on race and disability. This settlement will compensate the tenants who were harmed by CHA’s illegal practices and ensure that the housing authority will move forward with new leadership and new systems in place to protect its tenants from discrimination in the future,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “By creating new accessible housing units, CHA will also be better able to meet the needs of the community.”

“Racial and national origin discrimination, and discrimination against persons living with disabilities, are unlawful and will not be allowed in our country’s housing market,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Diane M. Shelley of the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. “HUD applauds the Justice Department for reaching this settlement and will continue supporting its efforts to hold housing providers accountable when they fail to meet their obligations under the nation’s housing laws.”

CHA tenants may be eligible to participate in the settlement fund if they previously requested to transfer apartments to accommodate a disability, and the transfer was improperly delayed or denied by CHA. For more information, contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office by phone (617) 275-8756 or email: USAMA.CivilRights@usdoj.gov .

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