[CIVIL. REG.,021696,0800]
Housing Tests
(Iowa Civil Rights Commission, 02/16/96; 0800)
IOWA CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION CONDUCTS
HOUSING TESTS IN CENTERVILLE
On December 27 and 28, 1995,
the Iowa Civil Rights Commission (ICRC) conducted fifteen housing tests
in the city of Centerville, Iowa and found no violations of federal and
State anti-discrimination laws.
Under the current testing program funded by the U. S. Department of Housing
and Urban Development, the ICRC is testing landlords and realtors to determine
whether applicants for rental units are treated differently because of race,
disability, or familial status.
Since February 15, 1995, the ICRC has conducted 612 tests of landlords and
realtors in thirty-five Iowa communities and found 109 possible violations
of fair housing laws.
The ICRC's purpose in testing is to educate and reform. Everyone who is
tested is contacted and informed about the test and the test results. Persons
who pass the tests are thanked for following the law and persons who do
not pass are either counseled regarding the law or served with a complaint,
depending on the seriousness of the violation.
The ICRC has recently published a new, 16-page Fair Housing Guide which
is free upon request. For a copy, contact the ICRC's public education officer,
Carol Leach, at 515-281- 8354.
Persons seeking housing, as well as persons providing housing, need to know
and understand their rights and responsibilities under the federal and State
fair housing laws. The ICRC's new Fair Housing Guide explains the content
of the fair housing laws by giving examples of situations that arise in
housing transactions and by offering fair housing guidance.