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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 12/7/2016
Contact: Stefanie Bowers, Equity Director
Phone: 319-356-5022
Sample Survey results for Impediments to Fair Housing
Choice now available
In February 2014, 210 users of Housing Choice Vouchers (HCVs) were surveyed as to whether
they believed they had experienced housing discrimination in the last three years. HCVs are federal
subsidies that provide rental assistance to eligible individuals. The Iowa City Housing Authority
administers the program. Holders of HCVs are able to lease affordable, privately owned rental
housing. The purpose of the program is to provide individuals with safe, affordable housing options.
HCV and other rental subsidies are very useful to individuals, particularly in high cost housing
markets like Iowa City. To be eligible for the HCV program, an individual/household must meet
family composition requirements and must earn no more than 50% of the area median income.
In the 2014 survey results, 21% of HCV users believed they had been discriminated against in the
last three years. Discrimination based on the use of HCV was the most cited reason for the
discrimination (31%), followed by receiving other forms of public assistance (28%), race, national
origin or color (27%). At the time of the 2014 survey, it was lawful for a housing provider to refuse
to rent to an individual who used HCVs to subsidize their rent. 2014 survey results can be located
online at http://bit.ly/2fXjbtn.
In June 2016, Iowa City’s fair housing laws were amended to provide protection for individuals who
use HCV or other rental subsidies to supplement their monthly rental income. Housing providers
can no longer refuse to rent to an individual just because they use HCV to subsidize their rent.
Between August and September 2016, the Iowa City Human Rights Office sample surveyed 150
HCV holders with Iowa City addresses. Of that number, 32 individuals responded (20%). The Iowa
City Human Rights Office enforces the City’s fair housing laws and conducted this survey to
determine whether HCV users saw an immediate difference in their ability to rent housing in Iowa
City since the new law went into effect.
The 2016 Annual Report of the Iowa City Housing Authority cites 826 total HCVs in use in Iowa City.
This report can be found at http://bit.ly/2h6Efz4.
In reviewing the results of the 2016 sample survey, the Human Rights Office recommends the
following set of action plans. Collaborating with local housing advocates, social service agencies
and the Iowa City Housing Authority to provide extensive outreach to individuals using HCV. The
outreach efforts are intended to bring awareness and knowledge to individuals so that they are
aware that they can file complaints when they believe they have been treated differently based on a
protected characteristic in their search for housing, and that Human Rights staff will investigate their
complaint at no charge.
As part of the work plan, the Human Rights Office will also conduct more training opportunities and
educational outreach on fair housing laws and regulations to the public. One of the biggest
challenges the Human Rights Office encounters is that violations go unreported either because
individuals do not believe that filing a complaint will change anything or they fear retaliation to them
or their loved ones if they report it. Any effective outreach must counteract these thoughts and
opinions.
Human Rights staff quarterly reviews rental advertisings online and in print for fair housing
violations. Violations of fair housing laws can include rental listings that use language discouraging
individuals from renting based upon protected characteristics and can result in legal action against
the housing provider, as well as the publisher of the advertising.
Starting in 2017, individuals who believe they have been discriminated against will have the
additional option of submitting a housing discrimination complaint via the City’s website 24/7, in
addition to the written form which is currently in use. The 2016 Impediments to Fair Housing Choice
document can be accessed at http://bit.ly/2gRodp5.
Fair Housing Discrimination Survey Results2016
As a follow-up to the 2014 Impediments to Fair Housing Choice Survey, over 150 recipients of Housing Choice
Vouchers were re-surveyed in 2016 in order to assess outcomes. Surveys were mailed to recipients with a self-
addressed, postage-paid envelope included.
Approximately 20% of the surveys were returned.
The majority of responses received were from individuals aged 51-60 (11). Only a few were from individuals under
30 (five). Twenty of the thirty-two responses were from individuals aged 41 and over.
Over twice as many females as males responded. Of the respondents who reported they had been discriminated
against, most were females, with only one male reporting having been discriminated against. Distribution of
responses between Black and White individuals were roughly equal, at 13 Black and 16 White responding. The
remaining three respondents were Hispanic, Mixed-race, and Other.1
1“Mixed-race” and “Other” were categories written in by the respondents.
Over 150
recipients surveyed
Approximately 32 (20%)
surveys were returned
20
were from individuals ages
41 and over.
11
of those were from individuals
aged 51–60
5
were from individuals under 30
Over
Twice
as many females as males
responded
16
respondents were white
13
respondents were black2
City of Iowa City’s Report on the 2016 Fair Housing Discrimination Survey
1. In the last 2 years, do you believe you have been treated differently, denied, or discouraged
from renting a home of your choice while searching for or living in rental housing in Iowa
City? (If “No”, “I don’t think so”, or “I don’t know,” please proceed to Question 12.)
3
City of Iowa City’s Report on the 2016 Fair Housing Discrimination Survey
**One male respondent wrote “other” in. This respondent also did
not check any category for question 1, but was treated as a “no”
because he skipped to Question 12 as those who answered no were
directed to do.
*One respondent was a Hispanic female; the other was a female who
wrote in “mixed race” and checked White, Hispanic, and Black.
YES
6
61+
51–60
41–50
31–40
22–30
18–21
No
21
I ThINk So
1
I doN’T ThINk So
3
I doN’T kNow
1
• Black male
• Black female
• White male
• White female
• Other
*
**
The following questions count only the individuals who answered “yes” or “I think so” regarding whether they
had been discriminated against in housing. One individual reported discrimination outside the 2-year time-
frame given in the survey, but was still counted in the “yes” statistics. Since only seven individuals answered
“yes” or “I think so,” there was almost no overlap in race and gender. The one exception to this is that there
were two Black females who reported housing discrimination. The answers these two individuals gave are
distinguished by their age ranges listed after their designation as Black females.
4
City of Iowa City’s Report on the 2016 Fair Housing Discrimination Survey
2. If yes or I think so, why do you believe you were treated differently, denied, or discouraged
from renting? Select all that apply.
3 Race (Example: because you are Black, White, Asian, etc.) • Black male
• Hispanic female
• Black female, age 22–30
1 Religion • Black male
0 Marital status (Example: because you are married,
divorced, unmarried, etc.)
0 Sexual orientation
0 Color
1 Age (Example: because you are young or old) • Black female, age 22–30
0 National origin
2 Familial status (Example: because you are pregnant • Mixed race female
or you have children) • Black female, age 22–30
0 Gender identity
2 disability • Mixed race female
• White female
0 Presence or absence of dependents (Example: because
your household includes someone you must care for,
such as an elderly relative)
3 Public assistance source of income • Mixed race female
(These include: Housing Choice Voucher, social security, • Black male
supplemental security income, temporary assistance for • Black female, age 22–30
needy families, family investment program, general relief,
food stamps, and unemployment compensation.)
Note: the Black female age 41-50 did not check any bases.
5
City of Iowa City’s Report on the 2016 Fair Housing Discrimination Survey
3. do you believe you have been treated differently, denied, or discouraged from renting
more than once? If so, how many times?
1 one time • White female
3 Two to five times • Hispanic female
• Black female, age 22–30
• Black male
2 over five times • Mixed race female
• Black female, age 41–50
4. who treated you differently, denied, or discouraged you from renting?
5 Property manager/landlord • Black male
• Hispanic female
• Black female, age 22–30
• Black female, age 41–50
• White female
1 Government housing program staff person • Black male
(He checked both property manager and
government staff person)
1 other (wrote in “private rental owners”) • Mixed race female
5. what type of rental housing you were searching for or living in?
2 Apartment • Black female, age 22–30
• White female
5 house • Black female, age 22–30
• Black female, age 41–50
• Mixed race female
• Hispanic female
• Black male
0 Trailer or mobile home
0 other: ____________________________________________________________
6
City of Iowa City’s Report on the 2016 Fair Housing Discrimination Survey
6. Are you aware you can file a complaint of discrimination with the Iowa City
human Rights office?
1 Yes • Mixed race female
5 No • Black female, age 22–30
• Black female, age 41–50
• Black male
• Hispanic female
• White female
7. do you know where the office is located?
1 Yes • Mixed race female
5 No • Black female, age 22–30
• Black female, age 41–50
• Black male
• Hispanic female
• White female
8. how did you hear that you could file complaints of discrimination?
2 This form/survey • Hispanic female
• White female
1 Friend • Black male
1 Left blank • Black female, age 22–30
1 IC housing Authority • Black female, age 41–50
1 “Because it is hard to prove • Mixed race female
and it doesn’t change anything”
9. did you file a complaint of discrimination?
1 Left Blank • Black female, age 22–30
5 No • Black female, age 41–50
• Black male
• Hispanic female
• Mixed race female
• White female
7
City of Iowa City’s Report on the 2016 Fair Housing Discrimination Survey
10. If you have not, why?
2 didn’t know I could • Hispanic female
• White female
1 Left blank • Black female, age 22–30
1 “Because all the workers [are] one family” • Black male
1 “Because it is hard to prove and • Mixed race female
doesn’t change anything”
1 “I didn’t want to live where I was not wanted. • Black female, age 41–50
I found housing elsewhere and I didn’t want to
cause any issues.”
11. what would make you file a complaint?
1 “If I was unfairly treated and if I could not find a place” • Black female, age 41–50
1 “Unfair treatment and listening/fixing my concerns” • Hispanic female
1 “The staff will be different identity” [because all family] • Black male
1 “Undecided” • White female
2 Left blank • Black female, age 22–30
• Mixed race female
8
City of Iowa City’s Report on the 2016 Fair Housing Discrimination Survey
12. what is your age?
1 18 – 21
4 22 – 30
7 31 – 40
5 41–51
11 51–60
4 61 or older
Answers to the following questions are combined in question 1. Numbers given below are the
raw data.
13. what is your race or ethnicity?
16 white, Non-hispanic
13 Black or African-American
0 Asian
0 American Indian or Alaska Native
1 hispanic or Latino
0 Native hawaiian and Pacific Islander
1 “Mixed race”
1 “other”
14. I identify my gender as ?
10 Male
22 Female
0 Trans*
0 __________________________ (Fill in the blank)