We know that for decades, with redlining and other racist laws and practices, Black people have been routinely denied access to home loans and turned away from renting and buying homes.
But there are laws against housing discrimination now, right? Not so fast. A recent study shows how bad the problem can really be for us.
The Urban Institute performed the most comprehensive study of housing discrimination yet using “paired testing,” which creates two completely equal fake identities - the same income, credit score, etc. - with only one difference: race.
The results were what most Black people already knew, but were still shocking to many.
Despite years of laws intended to end housing discrimination, Black people are still denied equal access. For low-income people with housing vouchers, the problem is just as bad.
Even worse? New laws in the works under the Trump administration make ending discrimination even harder. So what can we do about it?
If you’ve experienced housing discrimination, there are a few ways to file complaints, and knowing your rights under the Fair Housing Act is crucial. The National Fair Housing Alliance could even do an investigation that might result in you receiving a payment for damages!
Another important move: look into a Black bank or Black mortgage lender. They are much more likely to give fair home loans and support with mortgages if you’re buying a house!