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.