The Rolla apartment manager named in a discrimination lawsuit brought by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development denies the allegations.
Roger Harris, who manages the Forum Manor Apartments, has been charged by HUD with housing discrimination based on race, race association, sex, and retaliation.
Also named in the lawsuit is the apartment complex and management company.
“Absolutely not,” said Harris when asked Tuesday whether the charges have merit.
“Obviously, HUD would have a different opinion. I’m not sure how they’ve come to these charges, but all this stems from one individual. It’s turned into a witch hunt,” Harris said.
Harris explained the apartments he manages have strict guidelines.
“It’s Section 8 Housing, and Section 8 Housing requires all people living there must be on the lease,” Harris began. “A woman had a man living with her, and I told her we needed to add him to the lease. After awhile, I called her on it, and all of a sudden I’m the bad guy.
“Some of the people who allege I’ve discriminated against them, I don’t even know. This is a first-come, first-served application process. I don’t even know these people who I’ve allegedly discriminated,” Harris said.
“Perhaps, I should talk to my bosses before I say anything more,” he concluded.
Harris called back and referred all questions to a parent company.
HUD alleges that, as manager, Harris discriminated on the basis of race by routinely making disparaging and derogatory comments about African Americans to tenants.
According to the HUD statement, Harris stated that he did not want African Americans at the property, and refused to rent to an African American woman. Harris allegedly sexually harassed a female tenant and intimidated, threatened and interfered with female tenants’ enjoyment of their dwellings by threatening their housing, telling them they could not have male guests, and making offensive and vulgar comments, gestures and innuendos related to sex.
