A new study documents staggering racial bais in the Boston rental market and compares the racial disparities among prospective tenants seeking housing in 2018 and 2019.
A study by researchers at Suffolk University Law School examines racial bias among real estate professionals working in the Boston rental market and examines the differential treatment experienced by qualified renters on the basis of race. "In subtle and overt ways, Black renters experienced discrimination by real estate brokers and landlords in 71 percent of the cases tested in the study," writes Meghan E. Irons. The study also found that people seeking housing with Section 8 housing vouchers experienced even greater rates of discrimination in that "regardless of race, they were routinely blocked, ignored, or turned away by an agent," Irons reports.
Researchers conducted 700 undercover tests in which 200 Black and white participants with similar income levels and credits scores posed as prospective tenants and documented their experiences in writing after interacting with real estate brokers. Irons points out that over 180 of the 200 participants had exclusive contact with a real estate or management company professional. According to the researchers, these professionals are in part responsible for the discriminatory practices unveiled by the study and should work to correct the racist bias.
Enforcing Housing Discrimination Laws Falls Largely on Tenants, Nonprofits
With few enforcement mechanisms even in cities that have bans on source-of-income discrimination on the books, it’s up to nonprofit lawyers and tenants to sue landlords for retribution.
Three Key Calls to Action to Improve Racial Equity in Transit Policy
Important changes are necessary to promote racial equity in transit policy, governance, and agency recruitment, according to Darnell Grisby, director of policy development at the American Public Transit Association.
Reporters Go Undercover to Identify Housing Discrimination
A three-year investigation of the real estate industry on Long Island reveals rampant discriminatory practices and an industry complicit in the segregation of the communities that comprise the region.
Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.
Texas Bills Could Push More People Into Homelessness
A proposal to speed up the eviction process and a bill that would accelerate enforcement of an existing camping ban could make the state’s homelessness crisis worse, advocates say.
USGS Water Science Centers Targeted for Closure
If their work is suspended, states could lose a valuable resource for monitoring, understanding, and managing water resources.
Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation
California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.
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