The Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana today joined several groups that have filed a federal housing discrimination complaint against Bank of America.

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Fair Housing Center Executive Director Amy Nelson says the complaint alleges that Bank of America has failed to maintain foreclosed properties in African-American and Latino neighborhoods. Nelson says they monitored almost two dozen properties in Indianapolis and found that Bank of America hasn't maintained foreclosed homes in those neighborhoods at the same rate as predominantly white neighborhoods.

Nelson says Indianapolis has so many foreclosed homes and her group chose to be part of the federal complaint. She says Bank of America, which owns the foreclosed properties, is obligated to maintain and market the homes. She says many of the homes even lacked "For Sale" signs and weren't getting the same attention as those in white neighborhoods. She says property values have been affected as a result. Nelson says the goal is to get Bank of America to maintain the homes at the same level as others.

Several other organizations from across the nation as also part of the complaint filed with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.  In a written response, Bank of America denies the allegations and says it's committed to stabilizing and revitalizing communities impacted by economic downturn.