Subtle Housing Discrimination Still an Issue

Although there has been a decline in blatant discrimination in housing, unequal treatment continues to persist.  More subtle forms of housing denial still occurs, according to a new summary study released on June 11, 2013 by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Urban Institute. Housing Discrimination Against Racial and Ethnic Minorities 2012 finds that African-Americans, Hispanics and Asians learn about fewer housing options than equally qualified Whites.

Real estate agents and rental housing providers recommend and show fewer available homes and apartments to minority families, thereby increasing their costs and restricting their housing options. The study concludes this is a national, not a regional, phenomenon.

“The forms of discrimination documented by this study are very difficult for victims to detect,” said the Urban Institute’s Margery Turner.  “To detect housing discrimination today, HUD and local fair housing organizations need to conduct proactive testing, especially in the sales market, where discrimination appears higher than in the rental market.”

This is the fourth in a series of national studies sponsored by HUD, roughly each decade since 1979, to measure housing discrimination in rental and sales markets.  It finds that while minorities today are rarely denied an appointment to see an advertised unit, less blatant forms of unequal treatment persist.

Key findings concerning renters in the report include:

Taking into account the ability to make an appointment, the availability of units and homes, and the agent’s willingness to show units, minority renters and home-buyers are told about and shown fewer homes and apartments.

 Black

• Black renters who contact agents about recently advertised housing units learn about 11% fewer available units and are shown roughly 4% fewer units.

Asian

• Asian renters who contact agents about recently advertised housing units learn about 10% fewer available units and are shown nearly 7% fewer units.

Hispanic

• Hispanic renters who contact agents about recently advertised housing units learn about 12% fewer available units and are shown roughly 7% fewer units.

“Fewer minorities today may be getting the door slammed in their faces, but we continue to see evidence of housing discrimination that can limit a family’s housing, economic and educational opportunities,” said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. “It’s clear we still have work to do to end housing discrimination once and for all.”

We, as managers and managing agents, must sharpen our skills so that we are acting within the guidelines of Fair Housing and upholding the spirit of the law.