HUD Releases Survey Concerning Same-Sex Couples
HUD Releases Survey Concerning Same-Sex Couples
In March of 2012 HUD mandated new protections based on (among other things) sexual orientation. Now HUD has released a “first-ever” study conducted by the University of Albany, NY in June, 2013. This survey sheds light on Fair Housing issues concerning same-sex couples.
HUD’s study was based on nearly 7,000 email surveys conducted in 50 metropolitan markets across the country between June and October of 2011. For each paired test, two emails were sent to the housing provider regarding an apartments that was advertised online. The only difference between the emails was whether the couple was same-sex or heterosexual. Unfavorable treatment was measured by whether the couple was told whether the unit was available, was asked to contact the landlord, was invited to the see the apartment, or received any response at all.
The study revealed that same-sex couples received significantly fewer responses to email inquiries about advertised units than heterosexual couples did. Interestingly, in jurisdictions with state-level protections against housing discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, the results unexpectedly showed slightly more adverse treatment of same-sex couples than in jurisdictions without them.