Orange County NC Website
ATTACHN~NT A <br />FY'98 <br />Crit®ria for Processing <br />Introduction to Processing Dual-Filed <br />Fair Housing Complaints <br />The Government Technical Representative (GTR) has the <br />responsibility for the technical direction, oversight and <br />evaluation of complaint processing performance of Fair Housing <br />Assistance Program (FHAP) participants. The criteria set forth <br />in this document are intended to ensure that acceptable <br />procedures are followed for processing dual-filed housing <br />discrimination complaints. <br />To determine whether FHAP participants have acceptably <br />processed dual-filed complaints of housing discrimination, the <br />Government Technical Representative (GTR) must review each dual- <br />filed complaint against the criteria set forth in this document. <br />The GTR must ensure that only one payment is approved for <br />complaints which involve the same transaction or the same set of <br />operative facts. That is, complaints inv~olvinq multiple <br />respondents, such as the manager, owner, and assistant manager of <br />the same property, should all be included in the same complaint. <br />Likewise, multiple complainants who are all members of the same <br />household should be included in the same complaint. Where it is <br />determined that the Agency has filed separate complaints in such <br />instances, the GTR must authorize only one payment. Commission <br />or Agency initiated complaints are acceptable for payment. <br />FHAP participants must commence complaint proceedings before <br />the end of the thirtieth day after the receipt of the complaint. <br />If it is determined that the Agency has not commenced complaint <br />proceedings within the appropriate time frame, the GTR may <br />reactivate the complaint. The written agreement between the <br />Agency and HUD defines commence proceedings as follows: the <br />Agency has received a complaint, assigned a case number,. <br />determined acceptability, and assigned the complaint for <br />investigation and resolution. <br />The GTR must confer with the appropriate Agency officials to <br />determine whether a complaint will be reactivated when it is <br />determined that an Agency has commenced proceedings within the <br />appropriate time frame, but has not carried forward proceedings <br />with reasonable promptness. Reactivation for this reason must <br />not be a unilateral decision. The GTR must confer with the <br />