Chapter 1 - San Diego Housing Commission

Chapter 1 – Statement of Policies and Objectives
F. LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENT PERSONS
It is the policy of the San Diego Housing Commission to ensure that persons with Limited English
Proficiency (LEP) shall not be discriminated against nor denied meaningful access to, and
participation in, any of SDHC’s programs and activities. By identifying the language needs of
clients and utilizing available bilingual resources to address those needs, SDHC staff will ensure
that LEP clients have the necessary meaningful access to all available services.
Towards that end, SDHC has adopted a “Language Access Plan” (LAP) that applies to all
programs, services, activities and facilities of the SDHC, regardless of receipt of Federal financial
support. The LAP concentrates on improving access to Housing Commission resources, with a
focus on those areas with regular and frequent contact with LEP persons.
The entire Language Access Plan will be available on SDHC’s website at http://www.sdhc.org/ under the
Fair Housing section.
G. ACCOMMODATIONS TO A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY POLICY [24 CFR 100.202]
It is the policy of SDHC to be service-directed in the administration of the housing programs, and to
exercise and demonstrate a high level of professionalism while providing housing services to families.
An applicant and/or a participant with a disability must first ask for a specific change to a policy or
practice as an accommodation of their disability before SDHC will treat a person differently than anyone
else. SDHC’s policies and practices will be designed to provide assurances that a person with a disability
will be accommodated, upon request, so that they may fully access and utilize the housing program and
related services. The availability of requesting an accommodation may be made known by including
notices on SDHC forms and letters. This policy is intended to afford a person with a disability an equal
opportunity to obtain the same result, to gain the same benefit, or to reach the same level of
achievement as those who do not have a disability. The policy is applicable to all situations described in
this Administrative Plan including when a family initiates contact with SDHC, when SDHC initiates
contact with a family, and when SDHC schedules or reschedules appointments of any kind.
To be eligible to request an accommodation for a person with a disability, the requester must first
certify (if apparent) or verify (if not apparent) that they meet at least one of three qualifying definitions
under the Fair Housing Act/ADA/Section 504 definitions of handicap. The person must: [24 CFR
100.201]
- Have a physical, mental or emotional impairment that substantially limits one or more of the
person’s major life activities;
- Have a record of such impairment; or
- Be regarded as having such an impairment
Rehabilitated former drug users and alcoholics are covered under the ADA. However, a current drug
user is not covered. In accordance with 24 CFR 5.403, individuals are not considered disabled for
eligibility purposes solely based on any drug or alcohol dependence. Individuals whose drug or alcohol
addiction is a material factor to their disability are excluded from the definition. Individuals are
considered disabled if disabling mental and physical limitations would persist if drug or alcohol abuse
discontinued.
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