Federal investigators determined Anoka’s “Crime-Free” housing program discouraged those with mental health issues and their landlords from seeking emergency help.
ANOKA, Minn. — A federal investigation has determined that an anti-crime program implemented by the city of Anoka discriminates against people with mental health disabilities and discourages them from seeking emergency help in times of crisis.
The investigation, carried out by the Department of Justice (DOJ), says Anoka’s Crime-Free Housing Program is a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Fair Housing Act by denying tenants with mental health issues an equal opportunity to receive emergency assistance from police or other law enforcement.
DOJ investigators say that under Anoka’s current rental licensing and “crime-free” housing ordinance, landlords can be penalized for so-called “nuisance calls” to their properties. Those calls include those for cases defined as disorderly conduct and what the city describes as repeated “unfounded” calls to police. Landlords can be fined or have their rental licenses revoked if they don’t move to evict tenants involved in those nuisance calls.
Investigators found when tenants with mental health disabilities and those associated with them (like their families or landlords) requested or received emergency assistance from law enforcement they risked eviction, fines or loss of rental licenses.
Read the DOJ’s Letter of findings
“Using a so-called ‘crime-free’ housing ordinance to invoke fear and prevent people with mental health disabilities from exercising their right to access housing and seek emergency assistance is discriminatory and runs afoul of our nation’s civil rights laws,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division. “This scheme is cloaked as a public safety measure but in reality it callously targets people with disabilities and their loved ones by penalizing them simply for reaching out for emergency assistance in times of need.”
The DOJ also found that for years the city of Anoka sent weekly reports to landlords detailing calls for emergency service from all rental properties. Along with a general description of the police call, each report included the name and address of those involved and often revealed personal and sensitive information about the tenant’s mental health disabilities, including their diagnoses, medications and names of psychiatric or medical providers.
Investigators say some of the reports even shared intimate details about suicide attempts. The DOG alleges the city used these reports to notify landlords of potential nuisance calls and encourage landlords to evict tenants.
In a letter to the city, the DOJ department asks that Anoka change its policies and procedures, designate an ADA coordinator and train staff.
KARE 11’s Kent Erdahl is covering this story for Breaking The News. He has contacted Anoka city officials and received this response from city attorney Scott Baumgartner.
“I am currently in the process of scheduling a meeting with the City Council to discuss the DOJ’s findings and remediation directives. Following that meeting and further review of the DOJ’s allegations, the City will be in a better position to respond with a comment.”
WATCH MORE ON KARE 11+
Download the free KARE 11+ app for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV and other smart TV platforms to watch more from KARE 11 anytime! The KARE 11+ app includes live streams of all of KARE 11’s newscasts. You’ll also find on-demand replays of newscasts; the latest from KARE 11 Investigates, Breaking the News and the Land of 10,000 Stories; exclusive programs like Verify and HeartThreads; and Minnesota sports talk from our partners at Locked On Minnesota.
Watch the latest local news from the Twin Cities and across Minnesota in our YouTube playlist: