“Residents had the promise of a new start, that new start however ended up being the continuation of a nightmare,” said Cori Mackey, executive director of the Center for Leadership and Justice.

Those filing the lawsuit claim families were given deadlines to move, limited information on the value of their vouchers outside of Hartford, and a lack of mobility counseling.

“Mobility counseling helps introduce families to neighborhoods they may not have thought of before, it helps reach out to

landlords that may not be familiar with the program and smooth the path for families who are interested in moves like that,” said Erin Boggs, executive director of the Open Communities Alliance, the non-profit filing the suit.

As a result, many of the families ended up staying in Hartford and in similar situations. Those filing the suit said it kept them in racially segregated, high poverty areas, where HUD funds subsidize housing.

“My apartment just recently didn’t pass its first year of inspection, here I am again. So, it’s kind of like we’re on the same boat ,” said Ashley Matos a former resident of the Infill I Apartments.

The lawsuit names the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Housing Authority of Hartford, and the City of Hartford.

The city’s corporation counsel responded to the suit in a statement that read in part, “

“We have to admit that we’re puzzled by the fact that the city is named in this lawsuit, since the city worked hand in hand with the Center for Leadership and Justice at every stage of the process to get rid of these slumlord owners and to relocate residents both in and outside of Hartford.” It went on to say, “This federal lawsuit seems to focus on precisely the issues that Mayor Bronin, Senator Blumenthal, Senator Murphy, and Congressman Larson highlighted in their letter to HUD Secretary Ben Carson this year, and we’re currently reviewing the lawsuit in detail.”