Access to Public Housing for Formerly Incarcerated People (Denver Housing Authority)

Sarika Ram filed this request with the Denver Housing Authority of Denver, CO.
Multi Request Access to Public Housing for Formerly Incarcerated People
Submitted Oct. 20, 2018
Status
Completed

Communications

From: Sarika Ram

Subject: Colorado Public Records Law Request: Access to Public Housing for Formerly Incarcerated People (Denver Housing Authority)

Fax


To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Colorado Public Records Law, I hereby request the following records:

-Currently valid policies/procedures relating to public housing and Section 8 housing assistance eligibility for applicants on the basis of arrest/conviction record
-Currently valid eviction policies/procedures for tenants in public housing and Section 8 housing units
-Currently valid policies/procedures regarding obtaining criminal conviction records from law enforcement agencies and sex offender registration information from the appropriate state/local agency responsible for the maintenance of sex offender registration program
-Any reports compiling the data of applicants to public housing and Section 8 housing assistance from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017
-Any reports compiling the data of public housing and Section 8 housing assistance denials and the basis of those denials between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2017
-Any logs of police reports related to activity in public housing and Section 8-subsidized units between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2017
-Any grievances/complaints of discrimination submitted between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2017 including any of the following words/phrases:
-crime
-crimes
-criminal
-convict
-convicted
-sex offense
-sex offender
-jail
-prison
-correctional facility
-probation
-parole
-conviction record
-arrest record

Please provide materials on a rolling basis, as they become available.

If you have any questions, please feel free to clarify via phone at 610-637-7745.

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 3 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Sarika Ram

From:

Subject: DHA Response Open Records Request

Email

Dear Ms. Ram-

I am writing in response to your open records request. The Housing Authority of the City and County of Denver ("DHA") responds to each of your requests as follows:

1. Currently valid policies/procedures relating to public housing and Section 8 housing assistance eligibility for applicants on the basis of arrest/conviction record

The requested information is contained in DHA's Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy and Section 8 Administrative Plan, which are publicly available on our website at http://www.denverhousing.org/aboutus/agencyplan

2. Currently valid evictions policies/procedures for tenants in public housing and Section 8 housing units

The requested information is contained in DHA's Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy and Section 8 Administrative Plan, which are publicly available on our website at http://www.denverhousing.org/aboutus/agencyplan

3. Currently valid policies/procedures regarding obtaining criminal conviction records from law enforcement agencies and sex offender registration information from the appropriate state/local agency responsible for the maintenance of sex offender registration

The requested information is contained in DHA's Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy and Section 8 Administrative Plan, which are publicly available on our website at http://www.denverhousing.org/aboutus/agencyplan

4. Any reports compiling the data of applicants to public housing and Section 8 housing assistance from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017

DHA does not maintain the reports that you have requested

5. Any reports compiling the data of public housing and Section 8 housing assistance denials and the basis of those denials from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017

DHA does not maintain the reports that you have requested

6. Any logs of police reports related to activity in public housing and Section 8 subsidized units between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2017

DHA does not maintain the requested information.

7. Any grievance/complaints of discrimination submitted between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2017 including any of the following phrases:

- Crime

- Crimes

- Criminal

- Convict

- Convicted

- Sex Offense

- Sex Offender

- Jail

- Prison

- Correctional Facility

- Probation

- Parole

- Conviction

- Conviction Record

- Arrest Record

DHA has determined that under the Colorado Open Records Act, and specifically § 24-72-204(1)(b), certain portions of your request should be denied. It is DHA's determination that providing information in response to your request #7 would be contrary to two (2) federal statutes, specifically 5 U.S.C. § 552(a) and the Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2013 ("VAWA").

Additionally, DHA has determined that it would be a violation of the privacy rights of these individuals to release the requested information, which is contained in the individual files of the various participants. As such, it is DHA's position that the release of the requested information would cause substantial injury to the public interest.

Respectfully,
Stella L. Madrid, DHA
Intergovernmental & Community Affairs Officer

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