RACIAL, ETHNIC MINORITIES FACE HOUSING DISCRIMINATION

Blatant acts of housing discrimination faced by minority home-seekers continue to decline in the U.S., yet more subtle forms of housing denial stubbornly persist, according to a new study released by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Urban Institute. The study, Housing Discrimination Against Racial and Ethnic Minorities 2012, finds African-Americans, Hispanics, and Asians learn about fewer housing options than equally qualified whites.

According to the study, real estate agents and rental housing providers recommend and show fewer available homes and apartments to minority families, thereby increasing their costs and restricting their housing options. The study concludes this is a national, not a regional, phenomenon.

Key findings of the report include:

• African American renters who contact real estate agents about recently advertised housing units learn about 11 percent fewer available units and are shown roughly 4 percent fewer units.
• Asian renters learn about 10 percent fewer available units and are shown nearly 7 percent fewer units. 
• Hispanic renters learn about 12 percent fewer available homes and are shown nearly 19 percent fewer units.
• African American home buyers who contact real estate agents about recently advertised homes for sale learn about 17 percent fewer available homes and are shown about 18 percent fewer units.
• Asian home buyers learn about 15 percent fewer available homes and are shown nearly 19 percent fewer units.

The difference in treatment for Hispanic home buyers and Hispanic renters is not statistically significant.