HUNTSVILLE, AL (WAFF) -
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced Thursday that they reached an agreement with Huntsville Utilities over allegations of discriminatory practices.
HUD accused Huntsville Utilities of discriminating against prospective customers based on national origin. Officials said Hispanic applicants were required to apply in person while non-Hispanic applicants had an online option.
In addition, Huntsville Utilities required applicants to provide a social security number.
According to the Fair Housing Act, it is illegal to impose different terms or conditions for service based on race, nationality, religion, sex, disability or familial status.
Huntsville Utilities said they believe issue occurred when the Alabama Immigration law had first been introduced and they were still learning how to comply with it. They said they believe they have fully complied with all Alabama laws as well as Federal laws and are voluntarily entering into the settlement agreement.
"We don't believe it was discrimination. We believe it was confusion over the policies on how to follow where to turn in your application, how to turn in your application," said Huntsville Utilities Chief Operating Officer Jay Stowe.
The president and CEO of Huntsville Utilities said they are committed to non-discrimination and providing the best service to all its customers.
Stowe said part of the confusion stemmed from the state's immigration law, which went into effect last fall.
Hispanic community advocate and chaplain Rosa Toussaint-Ortiz said she is not surprised by the allegations but she agreed the immigration law contributed to the issue.
"Because HB56 has created so much confusion because it passed, and then part of the law would stop...it has not been the same from the beginning," she said.
The agreement will require Huntsville Utilities to adopt a non-discriminatory service policy, develop and publish a list of alternative eligibility or identification documents that do not require a Social Security number and clarify which documents are required to qualify for service. The agreement will be in effect for three years.
They will also administer fair housing training to their employees and donate $5,000 to a local Latino charity.
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Huntsville Utilities said they are voluntarily entering into the settlement.
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