Winnetka, IL, August 13, 2014 — Open Communities has completed a three-year project to investigate and address discrimination against all persons protected under the Federal Fair Housing Act, including the underrepresented populations of immigrants, seniors, and the homeless in 16 of Chicago's northern suburbs.
Open Communities investigated discriminatory practices in housing markets ( from Lincolnwood to Highwood to Park Ridge and areas in between ) in order to ensure that all people have an equal opportunity to apply for and retain the housing of their choice. Work under the grant included discrimination complaint intake and investigation, fair housing education, a senior housing study, a focus group study on outsider perceptions of the North Shore, and a housing audit looking for patterns of discrimination in Open Communities' 16 community service area.
Open Communities findings include:
-Most municipal leaders verbally express support for diversity and fair housing laws; however, many local fair housing ordinances do not reflect this support.
-Although few African Americans lodged complaints with Open Communities, audit testing found that racial discrimination against blacks persists in the rental and ownership markets, but in ways that are not obvious to the community or to the home seekers.
-Few suburban officials either support or endorse affordable housing in their suburbs.
Based on the findings of the work completed under this grant, Open Communities has five ( 5 ) recommendations for municipalities and the real estate community: 1 ) Affirmatively advertise their communities as open; 2 ) Promote housing stock that is affordable to people with low and moderate incomes, with an eye to preserving and expanding rental housing as well as ownership options; 3 ) Encourage more public transportation, consulting with users about appropriate routes and schedules; 4 ) Address concerns about the comfort levels of new residents; and 5 ) Recruit people of color, immigrants, and people with disabilities to appointed or elected positions in local government.
Open Communities commends municipalities such as Niles, Northbrook and Morton Grove that requested fair housing training when presented with the fair housing audit findings. Open Communities also commends Evanston and Wilmette for requiring all landlords/realtors to provide home seekers a statement of the local fair housing law.
Open Communities urges communities to comply with the Affordable Housing Planning and Appeal Act to create at least 10% affordable housing in their communities because this action also affirmatively furthers fair housing. Deerfield, Lincolnwood, and Park Ridge did not submit affordable housing plans to the state as required in 2005. These suburbs as well as Glencoe, Glenview, Highland Park, Kenilworth, Morton Grove, Northbrook, Northfield, Wilmette and Winnetka must submit updated plans by June 2015. Open Communities also strongly encourages Kenilworth and Winnetka to create Fair Housing Ordinances at the municipal level.
For more information and to view the complete executive summary of the report, please visit our website at open-communities.org//files/2327/File/Task_15_report_v5.pdf .
About Open Communities
Open Communities', formerly Interfaith Housing Center of the Northern Suburbs, is a nonprofit organization that advocates for fair and affordable housing in 16 northern suburbs of Chicago. Our mission is to educate, advocate and organize to promote just and inclusive communities in north suburban Chicago. We are a leading voice for housing, economic and social justice in north suburban Chicago, working to promote inclusive communities that are welcoming to all.
We work with current and prospective residents and local groups to promote economically and culturally diverse communities in north suburban Chicago. We provide fair and affordable housing counseling services, community education, advocacy, and organizing for welcoming communities.
The work that provided the basis for this publication was supported in part by funding under a grant with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The substance and findings of the work are dedicated to the public. The author and publisher are solely responsible for the accuracy of the statements and interpretations contained in this publication. Such interpretations do not necessarily reflect the views of the federal Government.
Open Communities HUD Grant Highlights
"Outsider Perspectives of Chicago's Northern Suburbs" Focus Group
-Most participants gave the northern suburbs high marks for good schools and low crime.
-Participants view the entire region ( with the notable exception of Evanston and Skokie ) as "inaccessible" based on high housing costs; a sense of hostility; and, in some cases, experiences of discrimination.
-Some African American and Latino focus group participants expressed concern about racial profiling of people of color by police.
Fair Housing Audit
-According to the U.S. Census, between 1990 and 2010, Open Communities' 16 community service area lost nearly 4,000 rental units ( 11.6% decrease ) while gaining 26,000 for-sale units ( 27.5% increase ). This exacerbated the affordability crisis for low- and moderate-income families.
-Highest incidents of potential discrimination in the rental market were most often based on race ( 37% ), national origin ( 36% ), disability ( 27% ), and familial status ( 20% ).
-Highest incidents of potential discrimination in the sales market were most often based on race ( 61% ), national origin ( 33% ), disability ( 44% ), and familial status ( 50% ).
Real Estate Owned ( REO ) Property Investigation
-Evidence of discriminatory practices in violation of the Fair Housing Act allege that the maintenance of bank-owned foreclosed REO properties are maintained and marketed in white neighborhoods in a much better manner than in African-American and Latino neighborhoods.
-Open Communities has joined complaints filed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development against Bank of America, Deutsche Bank, US Bank and Safeguard.
Fair Housing Ordinances
-Kenilworth and Winnetka do not address fair housing at the municipal level.
-Deerfield, Glencoe, Glenview, Highland Park, Niles, Northbrook and Wilmette do not provide the same protection against housing discrimination as the Federal Fair Housing Act.
-Open Communities has encouraged communities to abandon "crime free ordinances" because of the disparate impact against protected classes. For example, blacks are arrested and not convicted at a higher rate than whites; therefore, demanding that landlords evict a renter based on arrests alone disproportionately affects the housing status of blacks.
Senior Housing Study
-The study revealed that the Equal Housing Opportunity logo was used 90% of the time in print ads advocating for a sense of community in senior housing; however, 95% of the ads featuring individuals used white models only.
-According to the Disability Status Report for Illinois, 48.6% of people aged 75 and over are living with a disability, but in print ads for senior housing, the disability logo was only used in 32% of ads.
-Based on investigative testing, 67% of independent living facilities appeared to be engaging in possible discriminatory practices based on race.
Affordable Housing as a Fair Housing Issue
-With the exception of Highland Park, suburbs with too little affordable housing by law ( that is, under 10% ), resist taking affirmative overtures to developers to include lower-cost housing units. The suburbs also have fewer than 10% African Americans and Latinos combined.
-Deerfield, Lincolnwood, and Park Ridge did not submit affordable housing plans to the state in 2005, as required under the Affordable Housing Planning & Appeal Act.
-These suburbs as well as Glencoe, Glenview, Highland Park, Kenilworth, Morton Grove, Northbrook, Northfield, Wilmette and Winnetka must submit updated plans by June 2015.
