By: Elizabeth K.
In today’s video, Michael J. Swanson, CEO, and Chairman, interviews Ron Kramer of Kramer Law Group. They discuss how the coronavirus pandemic’s effect on job loss has placed many people in vulnerable positions. This includes women and single mother tenants experiencing sexual exploitation through landlord abuse, as observed in Ron Kramer’s case.
An analysis of 80 fair housing organizations surveyed by the National Fair Housing Alliance found that 13% saw an increased number of sexual harassment reports during the coronavirus pandemic. Kramer draws concern toward this trend with his own client’s case.
Being a mother of two children, the client found herself out of work and behind on rent due to the effects of the pandemic. As a response to her struggling unemployment status, her landlord proposed a monthly exchange of sexual services as a substitute for rent payment. This coercive offer was documented through text message exchanges, which provided clear evidence of harassment and abuse. After the client quickly declined these predatory advances via text, she received an eviction notice created by her landlord.
With this interaction being in a clear violation of Fair Housing Act rules, Kramer successfully won his client’s case and brought awareness to the vulnerability of single mothers during the pandemic.