©2013 by Vendome Group www.fairhousingcoach.com Page 1

Study Finds Decline in Blatant Discrimination While

Unequal Treatment Persists June 18, 2013

Blatant acts of housing discrimination faced by minority home seekers continue to decline in the

United States, yet more subtle forms of housing denial stubbornly persist, according to a new study

just released by HUD and the Urban Institute.

Though few were denied an appointment to see an advertised unit, the study found that real estate

agents and rental housing providers recommended and showed fewer available homes and

apartments to African-American, Asian, and Hispanic families. The study, which involved 8,000 paired

tests in 28 metropolitan areas across the country, concludes that this is a national, not a regional,

phenomenon.

“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,” HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan said in a statement. “It’s clear we still have work to do

to end housing discrimination once and for all.”

Researchers reported higher levels of discrimination in the sales market than in the rental market. In

tests, black renters who contacted agents about recently advertised housing units learned about 11

percent fewer available units and were shown roughly 4 percent fewer units than white testers. But

black homebuyers who contacted agents about recently advertised homes for sale learned about 17

percent fewer available homes and were shown about 18 percent fewer units.

eALERT

©2013 by Vendome Group www.fairhousingcoach.com Page 2

The same was true in tests involving Asian home seekers. Asian renters who contacted agents about

recently advertised housing units learned about 10 percent fewer available units and were shown

nearly 7 percent fewer units. Asian homebuyers who contacted agents about recently advertised

homes for sale learned about 15 percent fewer available homes and were shown nearly 19 percent

fewer units.

Nevertheless, the study found the opposite in tests involving Hispanic home seekers. Hispanic renters

who contacted agents about recently advertised housing units learned about 12 percent fewer

available units and were shown roughly 7 percent fewer units; however, the difference in treatment

for Hispanic homebuyers was not statistically significant.

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