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Peoria, Housing Center Settle Lawsuit

City of Peoria

The City of Peoria and Hope Fair Housing Center have agreed to settle a lawsuit over the chronic nuisance property ordinance.

Under the settlement, Peoria will amend the nuisance ordinance and create additional policies to implement it. The city council approved the agreement during Tuesday’s meeting.

A statement announcing the settlement said HOPE Executive Director Evelyn Sanguinetti and Mayor Jim Ardis are looking forward to working together to ensure tenants are informed of their rights and can seek help from the city and HOPE.

The city has agreed to pay $40,000, with $25,000 going to HOPE for developing education and outreach material regarding tenant rights. The other $15,000 is earmarked for the Re-Housing Fund to assist tenants displaced from their homes through no fault of their own.

The lawsuit alleged the city violated civil rights laws in enforcing the original ordinance. The city denied any wrongdoing in the settlement.

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