HARRISBURG, Pa. — The Justice Department is taking Pennsylvania to federal court over regulations they say make it harder for people with disabilities and autism to live in community-based housing.
A lawsuit — filed Tuesday against the state departments of labor and human services — alleges that the state’s building code enforcement unjustly demands those with disabilities living in community homes pay thousands of dollars to install automatic sprinklers without requiring the same of those without disabilities.
That puts those with disabilities at a disadvantage when it comes to seeking housing, authorities say.
“Pennsylvania’s building code enforcement improperly demands individuals with disabilities living in community homes to pay thousands of dollars to install automatic sprinklers yet allows those without disabilities in similar resident housing to avoid such costs,” U.S. Attorney Gerard Karam said in a statement. “This office will continue to enforce the Fair Housing Act and partner with the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division to ensure out disabled citizens share the same rights as their neighbors.”
The suit seeks a court order allowing local governments to assess the need for automatic sprinkler systems for individual community homes.
