Watchdog Group Targets Section 8 Discrimination in Chicago Area

A national nonprofit watchdog group has filed the largest housing discrimination case in Illinois history. The Housing Rights Initiative, a national nonprofit advocating for fair and affordable housing, has filed 176 complaints against 165 real estate agents, landlords, and brokerage firms, accused of denying opportunities to housing applicants utilizing Housing Choice Vouchers.

The complaints were filed Monday with the Illinois Department of Human Rights after a nine-month undercover investigation in which the watchdog group posed as prospective renters in Chicago and its suburbs.

What We Know

To conduct the investigation, the Housing Rights Initiative (HRI) trained a team of undercover investigators, who posed as prospective tenants. They contacted hundreds of brokers and landlords by text or via messaging apps to determine whether they were complying with the Illinois Human Rights Act.

The investigation uncovered numerous instances where real estate agents, landlords, and brokerage firms allegedly refused to consider applicants using Section 8 housing vouchers, a violation of Illinois law.

“HRI found that 36 percent of the time in the Chicago area, people who are trying to use vouchers would be denied by the landlord or the broker,” said Peter Romer-Friedman, principal & founder, Peter Romer-Friedman Law LLC.

Romer-Friedman, one of the attorneys representing HRI, explains that housing vouchers are disproportionately held by families, people with disabilities, seniors, and people of color.

“Low-income families are struggling in every city in America to get by,” Romer-Friedman said. “It can be a heartbreaking thing for a low-income family to wait for months or even years to get a housing voucher that will give them more opportunity, and then not be able to use it.”

Screenshots that HRI catalogued as part of its investigation show that in many cases, once the undercover prospective renter mentioned using a Section 8 voucher, the realtor or landlord changed their tune.

“We really owe it to these federal housing programs and the people who would get the benefits of housing to open the doors of opportunity rather than to slam the door because someone says, ‘I need to use a voucher to get an apartment,’” Romer-Friedman said.

The Backstory

The Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) is a federal program designed to assist low-income families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities in securing affordable housing.

Despite legal protections, voucher holders often face barriers when landlords or real estate professionals refuse to rent to them. Advocates argue this perpetuates systemic inequalities in housing access.

What’s Next

Romer-Friedman emphasized that the complaints are intended to prompt cooperation with the Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR).

The IDHR enforces the Illinois Human Rights Act, which “forbids discrimination in real estate transactions,” including source of income discrimination.

HRI aims to work with the state to end discriminatory practices and ensure compliance with housing laws. If the landlords, realtors, and companies named in the complaints fail to comply, they could face legal action, Romer-Friedman added.

Conclusion

The Housing Rights Initiative’s investigation and subsequent complaints aim to address and end the systemic discrimination faced by low-income families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities in the Chicago area. By working with the Illinois Department of Human Rights, HRI hopes to ensure that all individuals have equal access to affordable housing, regardless of their source of income.

FAQs

Q: What is the Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8)?
A: The Housing Choice Voucher Program is a federal program designed to assist low-income families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities in securing affordable housing.

Q: What is the purpose of the Housing Rights Initiative’s investigation?
A: The investigation aimed to determine whether real estate agents, landlords, and brokerage firms in the Chicago area were complying with the Illinois Human Rights Act and treating all applicants equally, regardless of their source of income.

Q: What were the findings of the investigation?
A: The investigation found that 36 percent of the time, applicants using Section 8 vouchers were denied by landlords or brokers.

Q: What are the consequences for landlords, realtors, and companies that fail to comply with the Illinois Human Rights Act?
A: If they fail to comply, they could face legal action.

Q: What is the goal of the Housing Rights Initiative’s complaints?
A: The goal is to prompt cooperation with the Illinois Department of Human Rights and ensure that all individuals have equal access to affordable housing, regardless of their source of income.