District Court Infers Private Right to Enforce Enhanced Voucher Statute

This NHLP Housing Law Bulletin article from Feb. 2006 details a resounding victory for residents of federally assisted housing. The United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York found congressional intent to create a private right of action to enforce the enhanced voucher provisions of the United States Housing Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1437f(t). The case, Estevez v. Cosmopolitan, involved a challenge by residents of a Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation landlord’s refusal to accept enhanced vouchers. The Estevez decision is an important victory both for the plaintiffs in the case and for residents of HUD-assisted developments throughout the country.