[CIVIL. REG., 021496,0800]

Housing Tests

(Iowa Civil Rights Commission; 02/14/96; 0800)



IOWA CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION CONDUCTS HOUSING TESTS IN PELLA

On November 14 and 15, 1995, the Iowa Civil Rights Commission (ICRC) conducted sixteen housing tests in the city of Pella, 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 597 tests of landlords and realtors in thirty-four 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.