HIGHLAND – The US Department of Housing and Urban Development has charged two Highland men with violating the Fair Housing Act for allegedly refusing to allow a Vietnam-era veteran suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder to have a therapeutic service dog in his apartment.

The HUD charge against landlords Gerald and Paribelli, who manage and own the apartment Buildings of South Street Builders, Inc., in Highland, contends in retaliation against the veteran, for filing a housing discrimination complaint, they threatened to evict him.

The vet filed with HUD and the New York State Division of Human Rights, alleging the owners failed to grant his request for a reasonable accommodation when they denied his use of a service animal doctors had prescribed to reduce his PTSD, depression and seizures. They maintained they had a “no pets” policy in their apartments.

HUD’s charge of discrimination also asserts that the landlords told the tenant he would need to start looking for another place to live because he had filed the housing discrimination complaint.
The cause will be heard by a US administrative law judge or in federal court.

The judge may award damages to the vet for damages suffered as a result of the alleged discrimination.

“Every day, the men and women of our armed services risk their lives to defend our freedom,” said Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity John Trasvina. “It’s our duty to ensure that our service members, as well as everyone who calls America home, have access to safe and affordable housing, free from discrimination."