WHY LANDLORD DISCRIMINATION PERSISTS

 Molly Silvestrini

 Research Health Science Specialist

 University of Washington

In the city of Seattle, King County, Bellevue, and Redmond, it is illegal for landlords to discriminate against someone because of their status as a Section 8 or housing voucher holder. According to the Tenants Union of Washington State, landlords in these areas cannot legally refuse to lease to someone because they use a housing voucher to pay rent.[1] So why do some voucher holders continue to face discrimination and be denied housing because of their voucher status?

This was a question I found myself wondering over and over again during my time conducting qualitative analysis for the Creating Moves to Opportunity (CMTO) project. It is a question central to the aims of CMTO, an ongoing collaboration between researchers and public housing authorities to evaluate a novel policy intervention that seeks to reduce barriers to residential mobility for low-income families. “Opportunity Areas,” as they are referred to in the CMTO project, are those that “produce high levels of economic mobility for children, as measured by income in adulthood.”[2] Research has shown that growing up in a high-poverty neighborhood has a negative effect on a number of important life outcomes[3],[4] and CMTO aims to create a roadmap to opportunity neighborhoods for those who have not had many routes open to them. But what happens when there’s still a barrier to get there, even when the law says there shouldn’t be?

During my time coding and organizing qualitative data for the project, I noticed how frequently participants would speak about their experiences being denied housing due to their voucher status. In their recollections, landlords used a few different tactics to dissuade renters with vouchers from pursuing their rental units. Some would say that the housing had already been rented, when it had been “available” up until the renter disclosed their voucher status. Some would say that the renter didn’t meet certain “criteria,” without explicitly stating what that meant. And some would announce outright that they were not willing to accept housing vouchers, prompting feelings of shame and disappointment for renters simply searching for somewhere safe to live where their children could access quality education. 

When asked what barriers existed in moving to high-opportunity neighborhoods, many interviewees stated that perceived landlord discrimination was a significant obstacle. Many respondents knew that it was illegal to discriminate against Section 8 and housing voucher holders, but still had negative experiences with landlords when trying to use their vouchers. I felt frustrated and angry that low-income families were dealing with this level of illegal housing discrimination, especially after encountering so many other barriers.

So, beyond the limited efficacy of legislation, what can we do? I believe there needs to be more accountability and consequences for landlords who refuse to rent to Section 8 voucher holders. Even more importantly, there needs to be increased public awareness and education to reduce the institutionalized stigma of voucher holders. One participant, Ann, stated: “People like to talk bad about me and say, I’m lazy, and I’m this and that because we’re on housing. Well, little do they know, it’s not even about being lazy.” Many participants expressed feeling vilified or judged because of their Section 8 vouchers, which can cause substantial repercussions for those searching for housing.

I am incredibly grateful to be a member of the summer research team at Poverty and Inequality Research Lab at Johns Hopkins University, exploring the experiences of participants in the CMTO program. In addition to having the chance to strengthen my skills and expertise as a qualitative researcher, I now have an increased understanding of the housing discrimination and inequality present in the place I call home. I hope to continue pursuing research that examines this complex and nefarious phenomenon, so that programs like CMTO may truly be able to provide support for families as they attempt to make moves to opportunity.         

Read more Student Experience Blogs here.

[1] https://tenantsunion.org/rights/section-8-vouchers

[2] https://www.povertyactionlab.org/page/creating-moves-opportunity

[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4211272/

[4] https://www.povertyactionlab.org/page/creating-moves-opportunity