Housing Action Illinois 2009 ConferenceOctober 23, 2009

Marian Honel

A Closer Look at equal housing opportunities

Fair Housing:

TOPICS

About IDHRAbout IDHR Perpetuation of SegregationPerpetuation of Segregation Housing Discrimination LawsHousing Discrimination Laws Examples of Housing DiscriminationExamples of Housing Discrimination How to File a ChargeHow to File a Charge Contact InformationContact Information

The Illinois Department of Human Rights is the state agency charged with enforcing the Illinois Human Rights Act, enacted in 1979.

Our mission is to secure for all individuals within the State of Illinois, freedom from unlawful discrimination and to establish and promote equal opportunity and affirmative action as the policy of this state for all its residents.

FIVE TYPES OF DISCRIMINATION

EmploymentEmployment Housing/Real Estate TransactionsHousing/Real Estate Transactions Public Accommodations (public places)Public Accommodations (public places) Financial Credit (loans)Financial Credit (loans) Sexual Harassment in Higher EducationSexual Harassment in Higher Education

IDHR ProgramsIDHR Programs

Affirmative action compliance programAffirmative action compliance program Public contractor programPublic contractor program Institute for Training and DevelopmentInstitute for Training and Development Education and outreachEducation and outreach Interagency Committee on Employees Interagency Committee on Employees

with Disabilitieswith Disabilities Charge investigationCharge investigation

IDHR PROGRAMS

FAIR HOUSING DIVISION

Intake and investigation of charges

Education and Outreach – • Increase awareness about housing rights • Help Illinois residents identify housing discrimination• Empower more persons to recognize and report incidents of unlawful housing discrimination• Educational trainings in English and Spanish

• Nationwide, over 10,000 housing discrimination complaints are filed every year.

• The most common allegation is discrimination in the terms and conditions of the sale or rental of housing.

• Housing discrimination is still largely unreported – experts estimate 3.7 million incidents occur annually

• Housing discrimination has been perpetuated by other elements such as segregation, predatory lending, gentrification, etc.

FACTS

SEGREGATION• Index of dissimilarity – the number of people (out of 100) who

would have to move in order to spread the group out evenly across the region.

E.g. Chicago: --Black-White: 81 = high dissimilarity index

• The “vast majority” of Illinois communities are segregated at “moderate to high levels,” according to research by Maria Krysan.

• Of the 1,313 “places” in Illinois, 50 (3.8%) were listed as 100% white…and fully half (51%) of Illinois towns or places had 3% or fewer non-whites.

• Lower levels of Latino-White segregation as compared to Black-White segregation

THE PERPETUATION OF DISCRIMINATION

HISTORY -- ANTI-MINORITY SENTIMENT AND ACTIONS• Immigrants forced out of their homes, enclaves (1885 –

1920)

• Factors in increased anti-minority sentiment (1890 – 1930’s) - Government violations of treaties with Native Americans- Immigrants became convinced to deny their culture and identify as whites - Domination of persons of color

• Forced expulsions of African Americans and other persons of color (e.g. Springfield 1908)

• Sundown Towns (until the 1970’s)

• Public Policy Decisions - Racially and economically divided landscape- Local zoning issues -Government programs [FHA, interstate highways, urban renewal]

THE PERPETUATION OF DISCRIMINATION

Other Impediments to Fair Housing*

• Gaps in geographical coverage of private fair housing agencies

• Lack of fair housing knowledge

• Shortage of affordable, disability-accessible and suitable housing

• Unfair lending and real estate practices- blockbusting and panic-peddling create changing neighborhoods- restrictive covenants- racial steering

• Lack of enforcement

• Lack of funding*as noted in the State of Illinois Analysis of Fair Housing Impediments 2009

THE PERPETUATION OF DISCRIMINATION

Civil Rights Act of 1866:• First to guarantee property rights to all US citizens,

prohibiting discrimination based on race or color in the state, local and private sectors.

Civil Rights Act of 1968:• On April 11, 1968, one week after the assassination of Rev.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Fair Housing Act.

• Title VII prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental,and financing of housing, and in other housing-related transactions, on the basis of race, color, national origin, and religion.

• The Fair Housing Act was amended in 1974 to include sex

• Amended in 1988 to include disability and familial status and strengthened enforcement provisions.

LAWS PROTECTING AGAINST DISCRIMINATION

Some counties and cities have local housing ordinances that include protected classes not covered under federal or state law, e.g. source of income, housing status, student status.

 Federal Fair Housing Act42 USC § 3601

RaceColorReligionSex (includes sexual harassment)National origin (includes ancestry)DisabilityFamilial status (children under18)  

Illinois Human Rights Act775 ILCS 5/3-101

RaceColorReligionSex (incl. sexual harassment)National originDisabilityFamilial Status (children under18)AncestryAge (40+)Sexual orientation (and gender identity)Unfavorable military dischargeMarital statusMilitary status

SUMMARY OF FAIR HOUSING LAWS

PROHIBITED ACTS

• Denial of Housing

• Misrepresenting Housing Availability

• Unequal Terms & Conditions

• Sexual Harassment

• Discriminatory Advertising

• Retaliation

• Segregation

IDHR Housing Division FY2009: Inquiries…………………………..……..… 975Charges Filed……………….…………...…..355 Completed Investigations…...………..

……...342

Bases of Discrimination:Race……………………….……..…….….38%Physical/Mental Disability ….….……………35%Familial Status………………....................16%National Origin/Ancestry..……..................10%Retaliation…………………….…………....7.6%Sex……………………..…………………..6.0%Sexual Orientation/Gender

Identity………….1.4%

Note: many charges were filed under more than one basis

REPORTED DISCRIMINATION IN ILLINOIS

RACE

Discrimination & Foreclosure

• African American and Latino homeowners hold a disproportionate amount of high–cost loans, which represent the riskiest and most poorly underwritten home mortgages.*

• Foreclosure has been a result of defaulted loans (ARM), loss of equity (high payments to lenders)

• Metro areas with the most significant racial disparities are in the Midwest.

* recent study by National Community Investment Network

RACE & NATIONAL ORIGIN

Immigrant groups have been targets of discrimination through local ordinances and enforcement strategies:

• For example -- housing providers who – inquire about immigration status only of people who “look” or

“sound” like immigrants, – require additional documentation or fees for immigrants– all questions must be asked of all applicants and all applicants

treated equally

• Advocates must be aware of:– Inspections of school records– Changes to occupancy codes to target immigrant groups,

for example, changing the definition of “family”– Complaint-based, anonymous enforcement systems– Zoning and other regulatory changes

DISABILITY

Discrimination and People with Disabilities

• There has been an increase in disability complaints in recent years

• The Urban Institute’s analysis* of 200 paired tests showed:

-Landlords refused to speak to deaf persons in 1 of 4 calls (with relay-operator assistance), while non-disabled callers were given information about the units.

-19 % of landlords refused a request for a reasonable accommodation

-16 % said they would not permit a reasonable modification

-The most common basis of complaints was disability

*www.urban.org/CarlaHerbig [Barriers at Every Step – HUD’s Study of Disability Discrimination in Housing]

1988 amendment to the Federal Fair Housing Act resulted from a 1980 HUD survey.

IDHR charges based on familial status have increased from 5% of charges in FY2004 to 16% in FY2009

Familial status includes:–Families with children under the age of 18–Women who are pregnant–Persons in the process of adopting children or obtaining legal custody of minors.

FAMILIAL STATUS

Prohibited Acts:- Refusing a reasonable accommodation or modification

for families of children with disabilities

- Segregating families with children to certain floors or parts of a building or complex

- Restricting access to common areas/amenities such as swimming pools or community rooms

- Harassing of bi-racial couples

- Discouraging home seekers by failing tomention amenities or mentioning problems

FAMILIAL STATUS

This law applies to:• Persons/entities placing ads (landlords,

home sellers, realtors, lenders, non-profit and for-profit housing providers etc.)

• Ad agencies/publishers presenting ads, including newspapers (and other media), directories, and multiple listing services

Advertisers should: – describe the apartment and

neighborhood in neutral language– detail the security deposit and

application procedures– give the address or nearest large

intersection– use diverse models (race and family

type)

DISCRIMINATION IN ADVERTISING

It is illegal to make,

print or publish ads

indicating a

preference, limitation

or discrimination

based on a protected

class

HOW TO REPORT DISCRIMINATION

Recommendations:

1. Be aware of federal, state and local fair housing laws.

2. Document conversations. Make notes of any phone calls or emails, including dates and times when they occurred.

3. Report possible violations. Many agencies and organizations have free resources to help pursue fair housing complaints. There is no fee to file with HUD or IDHR.

4. Stick with the process.

FILING A CHARGE with IDHR

1- Contact IDHR as soon as possible (but no later than one year)

2- Fill out a complaint form (available on line)

3- For allegations covered under the Illinois Human Rights Act, a charge will be drafted and served on the Respondent(s)

4- IDHR will assign the case to an investigator who will interview parties relevant to the case, obtain necessary documents, and conduct an on-site investigation if needed

6- IDHR will attempt to resolve or complete the case within 100 days

IDHR LOCATIONS

100 West Randolph StreetJ.R. Thompson Center, 10th Flr

Chicago, Illinois 60601 

222 South College Street, 101ASpringfield, Illinois 62704

 2309 West Main StreetMarion, Illinois 62959

Housing Inquiries*: 312-814-6229

Other calls: 312-814-6200TTY: 217-785-5125

Toll Free: 800-662-3942

Internet: http://www.state.il.us/dhr/fh

* Bilingual English/Spanish

What’s Next?