Testing Program

The Commission tests lenders, employers, public accommodations and housing providers, as a way to determine the nature and extent of discrimination in Iowa. Tests are conducted as part of agency testing projects and in response to calls from individuals.

During Fiscal Year 1997/98 the Commission completed the 1997/98 Community Testing Project. During this project the Commission conducted employment, credit and housing on- site race tests in 12 communities in Iowa. Familial status housing tests were also conducted in each community. The communities tested included: Ames, Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs, Davenport, Des Moines, Fort Dodge, Marshalltown, Mason City, Muscatine, Ottumwa and Waterloo.

A total of 589 tests were conducted with 59 showing different treatment.

City Tested	Total Tests	Different Treatment Tests
Ames	33	1
Cedar Falls	41	2
Cedar Rapids	70	8
Council Bluffs	46	3
Davenport	59	9
Des Moines	85	7
Fort Dodge	53	4
Marshalltown	50	4
Mason City	24	6
Muscatine	15	3
Ottumwa	58	7
Waterloo	55	5

Examples of different treatment discovered during the tests include: the African American tester being quoted a higher interest rate for the same loan amount during a credit test; an African American tester being asked for ID before viewing an apartment while the white tester was not asked to show ID; a married tester with two children being told they could not rent a two bedroom apartment; and a single parent with a child being told that he could not rent a one bedroom apartment (when a married couple with no children were allowed to rent the same apartment).

During FY 98, we conducted 651 tests, found 86 possible violations of the law, and filed 15 Commissioner complaints.