In July 2009, ACRI filed a petition on behalf of a woman who is a recipient of public housing which is subsidized by the State to assist low-income families. The woman, who contacted ACRI’s Public Hotline, lives with her family in a city in south-west Israel which has been subjected to constant rocket fire from the Gaza Strip for several years. A recent near-hit of a Grad rocket and the continuing security threats have led the family to seek safer housing in central Israel.
However, the family’s request was denied by the Housing Ministry, which claimed that regulations obligate the ministry to assist in relocating those eligible for public housing only in matters concerning physical disabilities or injuries, excluding traumatic experiences.
ACRI stated in the petition that the authorities are unlawfully discriminating against the plaintiff and violating the Equal Rights for People with Disabilities Law. In the petition, ACRI demanded regulations be corrected so as to ensure equal rights for people with physical and mental difficulties in receiving subsidized public housing.
