Study finds "startling" level of prejudice against African-Americans in Oak Park

The Oak Park Village Board discussed what to do about a recent study's finding that a "startling" level of housing discrimination exists in the village. (Wes Venteicher, Chicago Tribune / February 19, 2014)

A study found a "startling" level of prejudice against African-American and disabled renters in Oak Park, where village officials voted Tuesday to create a citizen commission to study how to address the problem.

Calling the study's findings "disturbing" and "galling," the Oak Park Village Board voted to create the commission instead of pursuing immediate disciplinary action.

The village hired HOPE Fair Housing Center to study discrimination in Oak Park housing in 2013. The organization conducted "paired testing" by sending African-American and white renters to eight local management companies to ask about rentals.

Despite the village's reputation as "one of the truly integrated communities in the Chicago Metro area," significant discrimination persists, the study states. Rental companies did not return calls to some African-Americans when they did return white testers' calls, and Black testers were discouraged from renting when Caucasians were encouraged, the report states.

Additionally, rental companies hung up on deaf testers and told them security deposit costs would be higher than testers who could hear, according to the report.

"Frankly, we're not pleased with the results," HOPE Fair Housing Center Executive Director Anne Houghtaling told the board. "They're not what we expected."

Some Caucasian prospective renters were shown apartments when Black prospective renters weren't, the study showed.

One tester, who asked about having an emotional support animal in an apartment, was met with the comment, "maybe you could put like a handicap sign on the front door or something," the study states.

Prospective tenants who were Black or had disabilities were presented as being slightly better qualified than their counterparts, according to the study. Still, African-Americans had more difficulty getting information about rent amounts, security deposits and other details, according to the study. Rental agents were more likely to tell white people about amenities such as quiet streets and coming improvements, while African-Americans often heard about the rigors of criminal and background checks, the report states.

Houghtaling told trustees they could pursue discipline against the companies, which could include naming the companies with the worst offenses and other actions. She recommended education, followed by another study. If companies are still out of compliance after a second study, enforcement actions should be taken, she said.

"I'm kind of inclined to … name (the rental companies') names," Trustee Peter Barber said. "Because I don't like this toleration, I don't like the long discussions, I like people to have to abide by the laws that we have."

Village Attorney Paul Stephanides said the human rights chapter of the village code provides ways to follow up when people report violations.

So far, in cases where the village has investigated fair-housing reports, investigators have found valid reasons for people not getting housing, Village Manager Cara Pavlicek said.

"Nobody's pleased with the results of this report," Trustee Robert Tucker said. "At a minimum, it shows that a real problem exists."

Tucker proposed creating a citizen committee to study the issue and recommend solutions, such as education and more enforcement. He noted a recent citizens' committee at Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200, created to study an unusually large fund balance at the district, had been effective. The board supported his proposal.


http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/oak-park-river-forest-forest-park/ct-fair-housing-oak-park-tl-0227-20140219,0,3471086.story
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