By Daryl C. Hannah - Jun 15, 2009
Also read:
discrimination, predatory lending, foreclosure, HUD, mortgage crisis, disabilityLast year was "record breaking" for the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) agency as the number of discrimination complaints reached a new high, exceeding the 10-year trend. Although the agency also witnessed an increase in six of the seven protected categories under the Fair Housing Act, race-based discrimination complaints declined by 2 percentage points in 2008; discrimination complaints from renters with disabilities remains the category with the highest number of complaints.
Click here to read "Report: Housing Still Segregated in America."Click here to read "Mortgage Brokers Pay Restitution for Discrimination."Click here to read "Redlining in Black Communities: Who's Paying the Price? (VIDEO).""Despite progress, housing discrimination continues in America. We must put a stop to it and stand up for anyone who is unlawfully denied a home of their own," says John Trasviña, HUD assistant secretary for fair housing and equal opportunity. "Fighting against housing discrimination and affirmatively furthering fair housing are twin priorities of HUD and the Obama administration."
The 2008 HUD annual report shows the agency received a total of 10,552 complaints last year--up 81 percent from 1998 (when the agency received the fewest complaints). Last year was the third year in a row the agency received more than 10,000 complaints of housing discrimination. Prior to this three-year trend, 1993 was the only other year with more than 10,000 complaints.
Complaints from renters with disabilities remained at the top of the agency's list. With 4,675 complaints filed, they accounted for 44 percent of last year's complaints. Race-based complaints, the second-highest type, received 3,669 complaints despite declining over the past two years.
Other highlights from the report:
· HUD received 10,552 discrimination complaints last year. That number increased 39 percent from 1990, the first year the agency began tracking housing discrimination, and 81 percent from 1998.
· There are only four years in which the agency received more than 10,000 complaints: 1993, 2006, 2007 and 2008.
· The number of sex-based complaints continued its four-year trend. Renters filed 1,133 gender-based claims last year, up 12 percent from 2007.
· Familial-status and national-origin complaints were 16 percent and 13 percent, respectively, of the total number of complaints.
· Retaliation and religion are among the least common bases for complaints, accounting for 575 complaints, 339 complaints and 262 complaints, respectively.
People who feel they have been victims of housing discrimination should call HUD at (800) 669-9777 (voice) or (800) 927-9275 (TTY). Additional information is available at
www.hud.gov/fairhousing. Readers' Comments
