PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 27, 1995
CONTACT: Don Grove (515-281-8084)


Iowa Civil Rights Commission conducts housing tests in Knoxville

On March 15 and 17, 1995, the Iowa Civil Rights Commission conducted 12 housing tests in Knoxville, Iowa. Three tests showed possible violations of state and federal anti-discrimination laws.

In the first test, the African American tester and the white tester met separately with the rental property owner at her place of business. The owner offered to take the white male tester to the apartment building in her car. But to the African American tester, the owner suggested that he follow in his car.

In the second test, the female testers visited a realty company to inquire about the availability of houses and apartments for rent. The realtor told the African American tester that rental property was hard to find and that rents were high in Knoxville. The realtor did not ask the African American tester for her phone number. When the white tester inquired about rental property, the realtor asked her to leave a number in case anything opened up. The realtor did not tell the white tester that rents in Knoxville were high.

In the third test, the African American male tester asked the apartment manager if she had anything available and was told that no apartments were available and none were coming available. The manager told the African American tester that she could not show him any of the apartments. The manager also told the African American tester that the rent ranged from $260 to 330 depending on income.

An hour later, the same manager offered to show the white male tester her apartment and told him that the apartments were all basically the same. While she was showing the white tester her apartment, the manager mentioned that another apartment was coming available on May 1. The manager told the white tester that the rent ranged from $240 to 320 or 330. The manager also told the white tester that if he were at all interested in renting an apartment he needed to send in his application to the owners right away.

The Iowa Civil Rights Commission enforces Iowa's anti-discrimination law, the "Iowa Civil Rights Act of 1965." The law prohibits discrimination in housing, employment, public accommodations, credit, and education.