Press Release from: IOWA CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION

IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 4-19-95

Contact Person: Don Grove, Executive Director, 515-281- 8084



Iowa Civil Rights Commission Conducts Housing Tests in Altoona

On April 12 and 14, 1995 the Iowa Civil Rights Commission conducted 15 housing tests in Altoona, Iowa. Testers looked for discrimination based on race, family status and disability. Two tests showed possible violations of state and federal anti-discrimination laws.

In the first test, the tester asked the manger if she could install grab bars in the bathroom at her own expense. The manager was not sure and said she would have to check with her boss. Fair Housing Law allows tenants to make modifications to their rental units to accommodate their disability. These modifications are done at the tenant's expense. Property owners have the responsibility to educate their property managers and representatives as to the Fair Housing Laws.

In the second test, the managers of the apartment complex informed our testers that 1 bedroom apartments were for 1 person only. The managers stated that this was the policy for all 1 bedrooms in the complex. The Court in U.S. v. Badgett, 976 F.2d 1176 (8th Cir. 1992) found that a policy of 1 person per 1 bedroom apartment violated sections 3604(a)-(d) of the Fair Housing Act. The Court found that the policy of refusing to rent 1 bedroom apartments to more than one person had a disparate impact on families.

Iowa Code § 216.8(l) prohibits an owner, or person acting for an owner, of rental property from refusing to rent any real property to a person because of the familial status of that person. A policy of renting 1 bedroom apartments to 1 person only may violate Iowa Code § 216.8(l).

The Commission's current testing program is funded by a Fair Housing Initiatives Program grant awarded by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.