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WHY does Orange and Durham Counties Have Highest Housing Discrimination Complaints Per Capita


A recent report from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) found that in North Carolina, Orange and Durham counties have the highest rates of filed housing discrimination complaints. In the past five years, disability and racial discrimination accounted for 47.6% and 32.4% of all housing discrimination complaints, respectively.

            Although this may sound like an extreme issue with the community, Jeffrey Dillman and Jack Holtzman, the co-directors of the Fair Housing Project, note that the reason for these percentages could be because the residents of those counties are more aware of their rights compared to residents from other counties. Holtzman noted that the Fair Housing Project believes that those from different counties “may not be as educated about their housing rights or outlets to report discrimination.” He went on to highlight that there are a substantial percentage of individuals throughout North Carolina that do not know how to file housing complaints, or where they could file complaints even if they wanted to.

            The means in which landlords discriminate have evolved over time; racial slurs are rarer in an era where unrecognized backdoor methods of discrimination go unnoticed. Racial housing discrimination plays a big role in neighborhoods wanting to maintain a certain “aesthetic” to keep property values high. These practices typically occur in areas of white residents.

            Erika Wilson, a professor from the UNC School of Law, noted that many jurisdictions are entertaining the thought to implement legislation that prohibits the discrimination of tenants based on source of income. Landlords are legally allowed to reject tenants because they have Section 8 vouchers, and many have considered this to be legalized discrimination, because many Section 8 voucher recipients are people of color.

            In regard to disability and discrimination, many landlords discriminate against those with disabilities because of the cost, it is more expensive to rent to those with disabilities compared to those without disabilities. EmPOWERment Inc. has created an initiative to purchase homes and properties and turn them into affordable rentals. Currently, EmPOWERment owns 50 rental units.  

            Holtzman recommends two things when it comes to housing discrimination are enforcement and education. Additionally, Holtzman highlights that the general public needs to see housing as a human right, that is guaranteed to all.

https://www.dailytarheel.com/article/2019/02/housing-discrimination-0210

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