Families File Federal Lawsuit Alleging Discrimination Based on Familial Status at Luxury Phoenix Apartment Complex
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Families File Federal Lawsuit Alleging Discrimination Based on Familial Status at Luxury Phoenix Apartment Complex
Phoenix, AZ — Seven former residents of the well-appointed apartment building X Phoenix filed a federal lawsuit against the owners and operators of the property, alleging discrimination against families with children in violation of the Fair Housing Act. Plaintiffs include six parents and one grandmother, all of whom lived at X Phoenix with minor children.
The lawsuit contends that X Phoenix implemented a policy in October 2022 that banned children under the age of 13 from accessing the building’s deluxe amenities, including a swimming pool, fitness center, and co-working spaces —all housed in a separately managed entity known as the “X Club.” These amenities had previously been made available to residents, including the Plaintiffs, as part of their lease agreements.
Plaintiffs alleged in their complaint that the policy created unequal terms and conditions for families with children, making them feel unwelcome and effectively forcing them to vacate their homes. Residents without children, the complaint notes, continued to enjoy unrestricted access to the amenities.
Plaintiffs complained to SouthWest Fair Housing Council (SWFHC) and the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA), which conducted investigations of Plaintiffs’ complaints and counseled plaintiffs. NFHA had previously investigated similar family status discrimination claims at the owners’ X Denver apartment complex, located in Denver, Colorado.
“This discriminatory practice violated the core protections of the Fair Housing Act and sent a clear message to families: ‘You are not welcome here,’” said Lisa Rice, President and CEO of NFHA. “The Plaintiffs chose X Phoenix for the child-friendly amenities in the heart of an urban center—and were punished for doing so.”
“Families should never have to choose between urban living and basic dignity,” said Jay Young, Executive Director of SWFHC. “This case challenges the harmful notion that families with children are unwelcome in vibrant, communal spaces. The Fair Housing Act is clear: policies that exclude or segregate based on familial status are unlawful and unjust.”
The lawsuit seeks injunctive, declaratory, and monetary relief, requesting that the court prohibit the Defendants’ exclusionary policies.
The seven individual plaintiffs, the National Fair Housing Alliance and SouthWest Fair Housing Council previously filed administrative housing discrimination complaints with the United States Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) in 2023, which remain pending.
Plaintiffs are represented by the National Fair Housing Alliance, Brancart & Brancart and Richards & Moskowitz.
Read the full complaint here.
###
The National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) is the country’s only national civil rights organization dedicated solely to eliminating all forms of housing and lending discrimination and ensuring equal opportunities for all people. As the trade association for 200 fair housing and justice-centered organizations throughout the U.S. and its territories, NFHA works to dismantle longstanding barriers to equity and build diverse, inclusive, well-resourced communities.
The SouthWest Fair Housing Council (SWFHC) was established in 1986. We are a non-profit, tax-exempt fair housing organization based in Tucson, Arizona that provides services throughout Arizona. SWFHC advocates for and facilitates the enforcement of the Federal and State Fair Housing Acts in addition to the Non-discriminatory Ordinances of different Arizonan municipalities. SWFHC’s mission is to provide comprehensive services to achieve and preserve equal access to housing for all people.