The Department of Veterans Affairs discriminates against disabled veterans by outsourcing construction on its West Los Angeles campus, rendering some ineligible for housing because their incomes are too high, a federal judge has ruled.
The outside housing developers rely on tax credit financing that includes income eligibility requirements. The government compensation that veterans receive based on the severity of their injuries counts as income, excluding those who need housing the most, the plaintiffs in a class action lawsuit argue.
On Sunday in a partial summary judgment in the lawsuit, U.S. District Judge David O. Carter wrote that the outsourcing “facially discriminates against veterans based on their disabilities.” Carter said he would hear evidence at a later date to determine the appropriate remedy.