Press Release from: IOWA
CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 7-28-95
Contact Person: Don Grove,
Executive Director, 515-281- 8084
Iowa Civil Rights Commission
Conducts Housing Tests in Estherville
On July 19 and 21, 1995
the Iowa Civil Rights Commission (Commission) conducted 11 housing tests
in the City of Estherville, Iowa. The tests showed 2 possible violations
of state and federal anti-discrimination laws.
The Commission has tested 13 communities under the current testing program.
In these tests the Commission evaluated whether race, presence of children
and disability affected the availability of units, caused different treatment
of applicants, or was the reason some applicants were discouraged from applying.
The testers contacted landlords and realtors by phone and in person to inquire
about the availability of housing.
One test showed possible different treatment of the tester because of the
presence of children. In one case the tester inquired about a two bedroom
duplex for her spouse, herself and their two children. The owner said the
duplex was "really not real big" and was ".. almost basically
designed for college kids or something." The owner suggested the tester
call about a house had seen in the paper. The owner gave the tester the
number for the person she should call about the house and added "...I've
been by this place and I think it's quite a bit bigger than what we have
to offer." The owner did not tell the tester what the square footage
of the duplex was. The rule is to allow 2 people per average sized bedroom.
The owner's remarks could be interpreted as an attempt to discourage a family
of four from renting his 2 bedroom duplex.
In one race test, a realtor told the African American tester about a one
bedroom apartment he had for rent. The realtor did not mention any other
property. When the White tester came by the realtor told him about a friend
who had a 2 bedroom apartment for rent. The realtor called the friend and
asked if the property was still available. When the realtor was told that
it was, he gave the White tester directions to his friend's place.
The cities tested to date include Ankeny, Altoona, Cherokee, Clive, Coralville,
Estherville, Grinnell, Knoxville, Le Mars, Nevada, Sioux Center, Sioux City,
and Storm Lake. The results so far indicate 42 possible violations out of
229 tests.