Study: Black Renters, Voucher Holders Face ‘High Levels’ of Discrimination in Boston
Study: Black Renters, Voucher Holders Face ‘High Levels’ of Discrimination in Boston
Black renters are shown less apartments than white counterparts by real estate agents in Boston and prospective renters attempting to use housing vouchers also face discrimination, a new study shows.
The study, carried out by Suffolk University Law School, used Black and white “testers” who attempted to secure tours of properties.
The study found Black people experienced discrimination in 71 percent of cases.
Of the testers who were not using vouchers, white people were able to arrange apartment viewings 80 percent of the time while Black people were only able to see the same properties 48 percent of the time.
The authors of the study, led by the university’s Housing Discrimination Testing Program and Analysis Group, Inc., described their findings as “disheartening.”
Titled “Qualified Renters Need Not Apply: Race and Voucher Discrimination in the Metro Boston Housing Market,” the study found those who use housing vouchers faced high levels of discrimination in the rental housing market in the Greater Boston area, regardless of their race.READ MORE
