FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 8, 2024

We Will Forge Ahead to Protect Fair Housing

National Fair Housing Alliance Issues Statement On 2024 Elections

Washington, D.C. –Today, the National Fair Housing Alliance® (NFHA) released the following statement on the results of the 2024 election.

“Where you live matters and affects every facet of your life, including a child’s ability to attend a well-equipped, high-performing school; breathe clean air; drink unpolluted water; receive quality health care; eat healthy foods; access quality credit and insurance; live a long life, and so much more. Place is inextricably linked to opportunity and our nation’s fair housing and lending laws have created equitable opportunities for people of color, women, persons with disabilities, families with children, people of faith, LGBTQ+, and more.

During his first administration, President-elect Trump took significant steps backward in the fight for fair housing and fair lending, undermining critical protections that promote equality, opportunity, and justice for all Americans. Based on this track record, NFHA and our members are prepared to defend critical fair housing and lending protections. Our mission is vitally important and our commitment to advancing housing equity remains unwavering. We hope the next Administration now better understands how central fair housing opportunities are to the economy’s overall strength and ensuring all people can live and thrive in vibrant communities free of discrimination.

Under former President Trump’s leadership from 2017 to 2021, we witnessed a concerted and harmful effort to dismantle many of the key protections put in place to ensure fair and equal access to housing opportunities. The rollback of important regulations under the Fair Housing Act, the weakening of enforcement efforts at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Department of Justice, and the undermining of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) all contributed to a rising tide of discrimination, exclusion, and inequality in the housing market. The erosion of these protections disproportionately harmed communities of color, women, people with disabilities, and families with children, and others.

Each time the Trump Administration sought to erode vital protections, NFHA and our members led the important work of blocking their actions on behalf of the people of this great nation. We know that when we fight, we win. Justice does prevail. Our intention is to work with the next Administration and Congress to help people access fair and affordable housing and lending opportunities. And NFHA is committed to holding the next Administration and Congress accountable and ensuring that the promise of fair housing for all is upheld. As we look ahead to 2025, we remain steadfast in our mission and priorities. Our focus will continue to be on:

• Creating a Fair and Inclusive Economy Where Everyone Can Thrive: We will carry on our efforts to remove systemic barriers that hinder economic growth and viability in our communities and nation while we advance our work to increase housing security, expand homeownership opportunities, increase wealth and financial health for underserved people, and strengthen our economy.
  

• Improving the Quality of People’s Lives and the Communities Where They Live: We will continue our work to ensure every neighborhood has critical resources like quality healthcare facilities, safe and affordable credit and insurance, well-resourced and high-performing schools, affordable and clean public transportation, living wage jobs, high-speed internet, non-toxic land, air, and water, critical infrastructure, and resilient accessible and affordable housing.
  

• Increasing Access to Fair and Affordable Housing: We will push the new Congress to work to eliminate longstanding barriers to homeownership, including passing the Downpayment Toward Equity Act, which includes $100 billion for first generation homebuyers, and the Neighborhood Homes Investment Act with fair housing principles added to prevent displacement, which would add 500,000 additional affordable housing units in underserved communities throughout the country.

• Promoting Racial and Gender Equity: We will push for policies that ensure fair treatment and equal opportunities for people of all races, ethnicities, and genders, addressing systemic inequities that persist in housing and lending markets. This means we will be ever diligent to ensure that federal regulators fully enforce the Fair Housing Act, Equal Credit Opportunity Act, and Community Reinvestment Act.

• Strengthening Local Fair Lending Enforcement: We will advocate for increased funding and resources so that local and state-based offices and programs have the resources they need to address discriminatory practices in their communities.

• Promoting Fair Lending and Responsible AI: In an era where artificial intelligence and automated systems are playing an increasing role in decision-making, we will work to ensure these technologies are used responsibly and equitably, with safeguards in place to prevent inaccurate, biased, harmful, and fraudulent outcomes.

We hope the new Administration and Congress will prioritize policies that advance fairness, justice, and opportunity. However, we stand ready to confront any efforts to turn back the clock and undermine the progress we have made. The fair housing movement thrives through the strength of our members, supporters, and coalitions. The work to create a housing and finance system that is truly fair for all continues, and we will remain unwavering in our commitment to fight for those who have historically been excluded and discriminated against. They, too, are deserving of the American Dream.”

The National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) is the country’s only national civil rights organization dedicated solely to eliminating all forms of housing and lending discrimination and ensuring equal opportunities for all people. Through its community development, education and outreach, responsible AI, member services, public policy and advocacy, consulting and compliance, and enforcement initiatives, NFHA works to dismantle longstanding discriminatory barriers and build inclusive, resilient, well-resourced communities where everyone can thrive.

The post We Will Forge Ahead to Protect Fair Housing appeared first on NFHA.

September 19, 2024

WASHINGTON, D.C. _ The National Fair Housing Alliance® (NFHA) strongly supports the recent call by two U.S. senators to establish dedicated civil rights offices within federal agencies utilizing AI technologies, noting that as AI systems increasingly influence areas such as housing and public services, it is vital that these technologies are monitored to ensure fairness, transparency, safety, and accountability and preserve consumer privacy.

Senators Charles E. Schumer and Edward J. Markey wrote to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) earlier this week in a letter addressed to Director Shalonda Young stating, “We urge the White House . . . to require all federal agencies that use AI for consequential decisions to establish a civil rights office, if they do not already have one; ensure all civil rights offices are staffed with experts in algorithmic discrimination; and encourage federal agencies to establish additional safeguards to prevent algorithmic discrimination. By ensuring that agencies have the resources, personnel, and policies to detect and mitigate bias, we can ensure that the AI age does not come at the expense of already marginalized and vulnerable communities.”

NFHA wholeheartedly agrees that robust civil rights oversight will help prevent discrimination and promote government accountability in AI development and use, especially in housing and lending.

“We applaud Leader Schumer and Senator Markey for their foresight in recognizing the potential risks associated with AI and the necessity for civil rights protections, oversight, and enforcement,” said Lisa Rice, NFHA’s President and CEO. “AI is the new civil rights frontier. We cannot afford to ignore the tremendous impact it is having on people’s ability to access credit, rent housing, obtain insurance, and other necessities of life. Establishing dedicated civil rights offices, with highly skilled staff, will safeguard marginalized communities and foster trust in the technologies that are integral to our daily lives.”

“Housing decisions directly impact people’s lives, and with AI now playing a critical role in housing processes, it is essential that these systems are rooted in principles that ensure safe, secure, and responsible innovation. We urge the OMB to review NFHA’s recent report on skill assessment for agencies’ Chief AI Officers (CAIOs) in consideration for necessary workforce training to ensure effective oversight of AI systems. Additionally, NFHA’s algorithmic auditing framework offers a clear guide for implementing the Senators’ call for AI audits, ensuring AI systems are accurate, transparent and aligned with civil and human rights protections,” said Dr. Michael Akinwumi, NFHA’s Chief AI Officer.

“NFHA is committed to advocating for policies that ensure technology serves all individuals equitably. AI technologies are already harming communities. By equipping civil rights offices with adequate staffing and resources, we can better address the challenges posed by AI and protect the rights of every individual,” said Nikitra Bailey, NFHA’s Executive Vice President.

The Senators also request that OMB “prioritize the mitigation, prevention, and elimination of algorithmic bias and discrimination.” NFHA has been a leader in challenging and eradicating bias in a variety of technologies and urges the OMB to quickly implement the measures championed by Senators Schumer and Markey.

The post NFHA Supports Call To Establish Dedicated Civil Rights Offices Within Federal Agencies Utilizing AI appeared first on NFHA.

Washington, D.C. — The National Fair Housing Alliance® (NFHA) and Metro Fair Housing Services (MFHS) have announced a major partnership with United Bank to increase homeownership and access to credit in communities of color in the middle Georgia region. Through this initiative, United Bank will create a $2.165 million loan subsidy fund; invest in NFHA and MFHS’s Inclusive Communities programs for increasing homeownership opportunities in underserved communities in middle Georgia; enhance fair housing and lending policies, training, and monitoring; and increase marketing and outreach efforts to promote the Bank’s home loan products in communities of color.

“We are pleased that United Bank is committed to continuing its efforts toward increasing homeownership opportunities in underserved communities in Georgia. United is setting an example for all financial institutions throughout the country to proactively find solutions that address historical and current inequities and make homeownership a reality for first-generation and other underserved homebuyers,” noted Lisa Rice, President and CEO of NFHA.

Gail Williams, Executive Director of MFHS, added, “Metro Fair Housing Services welcomes the opportunity to partner with the National Fair Housing Alliance and United Bank to increase home lending and access to credit in the Bank’s 11-county service area in middle Georgia. One of the most important prerequisites to meeting this goal is the provision of fair housing and financial literacy training, comprehensive homebuyer education, and grants that impact affordability to residents in communities of color.”

The initiative aims to expand mortgage lending opportunities for majority-minority neighborhoods in the middle Georgia region through the following activities:

Loan Subsidies: To promote homeownership in communities of color in the areas it serves, United Bank will invest at least $2.165 million in loan subsidies for prospective homebuyers in those neighborhoods. These may include grants for down payment and closing cost assistance, payment of initial mortgage insurance premiums, and/or buydown subsidies to reduce interest rate payments.

Fair Housing and Lending Initiatives: United Bank will enhance its Fair Housing and Lending Policy, and it will provide enhanced fair housing and fair lending training and instructions to its employees, agents, and vendors. United Bank also will continue to assess, on a yearly basis, its lending performance in communities of color within the areas it serves.

Marketing and Outreach: In addition, United Bank will work to ensure that its home loan products and the above programs reach all prospective homebuyers by investing additional funds in marketing and outreach efforts directed to communities of color.

Expansion of Community Development Program: United Bank will invest in NFHA’s and MFHS’s Inclusive Communities programs to support their work and mission and fund additional activities to promote homeownership opportunities for underserved people and communities.

To learn more about the NFHA Inclusive Communities initiative, please click here.

The work that provided the basis for this press release was supported by funding under a grant from 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.

The National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) is the country’s only national civil rights organization dedicated solely to eliminating all forms of housing and lending discrimination and ensuring equal opportunities for all people.Through its homeownership, credit access, tech equity, education, member services, public policy, community development, and enforcement initiatives, NFHA works to dismantle longstanding barriers to equity and build diverse, inclusive, well-resourced communities.

Metro Fair Housing Services is dedicated to promoting social justice and eliminating housing and lending inequities for all people, through leadership, education and outreach, public policy advocacy and enforcement. For more information, visit https://www.metrofairhousing.com/about.htm.

The post NFHA and Metro Fair Housing Services Announce Major Partnership with United Bank to Expand Lending Opportunities for Communities of Color in Middle Georgia appeared first on NFHA.

August 15, 2024

Contact: Janelle Brevard │ jbrevard@nationalfairhousing.org

NFHA and Civil Rights Groups File Amicus Brief Arguing Against Judge-Shopping Practice By Banking Industry

Washington, D.C. — The National Fair Housing Alliance®, National Urban League, National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, UnidosUS and Raza Development Fund filed an amicus brief in the 5th Circuit in Texas Bankers Association, et al. v. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, et al., a case where the district judge issued an injunction enjoining federal banking regulators from enforcing changes to their rules related to the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA).

The amici argue that plaintiffs in this lawsuit, including the American Bankers Association and other industry groups, engaged in judge-shopping practices that raise questions of fairness for those who the new CRA regulations affect. The CRA regulatory updates adapt to changes in the industry and encourage banks to expand access to credit, investment, and banking services in low- and moderate-income communities.

“Random assignment of judges to cases of national interest is essential to maintaining public confidence in the impartiality of judicial proceedings,” says NFHA President and CEO, Lisa Rice. “Judge-shopping is especially popular among nationwide industry groups who seek to challenge actions by the federal government in judicial districts, such as the Northern District of Texas, that have single-judge divisions which have historically been friendly to the groups’ interests.”

“Supreme Court Justices, courts at every level, the United States Department of Justice, Senators from both parties, and legal commentators have all recently expressed concern about the effects of judge-shopping on public confidence in the courts,” said National Urban League President Marc Morial. Chief Justice John Roberts and the Judicial Conference of the United States recently issued guidance recommending that District Courts assign cases randomly among all judges in a judicial district, particularly where the matter has nationwide implications.

Judge-shopping is the disfavored practice of filing a lawsuit in a single-judge division to which the case has little-to-no connection to guarantee that the case is assigned to a favorable judge. Judge-shopping is only possible in a few judicial divisions where all cases are assigned to one judge; most judicial districts and divisions randomly assign judges to cases, for important reasons. These single-judge divisions have, in recent years, issued more than their fair share of nationwide injunctions.

The injunction stops federal regulators from proceeding with steps to implement a new Community Reinvestment Act rule that includes much needed updates. The Community Reinvestment Act rule was last amended almost 30 years ago. Since that time, the lending industry has changed dramatically with a simultaneous rise in bank closures and online banking. The new rule is designed to address 21^st century banking practices and ensure covered companies are not engaging in redlining activities and truly meeting the credit needs of the communities where they do business.

This amicus brief was drafted with assistance from Relman Colfax PLLC. The full amicus brief can be found here.

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The National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) is the country’s only national civil rights organization dedicated solely to eliminating all forms of housing and lending discrimination and ensuring equal opportunities for all people. As the trade association for over 170 fair housing and justice-centered organizations and individuals throughout the U.S. and its territories, NFHA works to dismantle longstanding barriers to equity and build diverse, inclusive, well-resourced communities.

The post NFHA and Civil Rights Groups File Amicus Brief Arguing Against Judge-Shopping Practice By Banking Industry appeared first on NFHA.

NFHA Applauds Appointment of Nikitra Bailey to FHFA’s Inaugural Federal Advisory Committee on Affordable, Equitable, and Sustainable Housing

Washington, D.C. – The National Fair Housing Alliance® (NFHA) released the following statement congratulating Executive Vice President Nikitra Bailey on her appointment to the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s (FHFA) Advisory Committee on Affordable, Equitable, and Sustainable Housing (ACAESH). This inaugural committee is tasked with advising FHFA on strategies to enhance access to housing finance and community investment through entities like Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Home Loan Banks.

“Nikitra Bailey is a well-regarded fair housing and lending expert and her selection to ACAESH is a testament to her expertise and longstanding commitment to advancing innovative and transformational housing opportunities for all Americans. With her extensive leadership of advocating for fair housing and lending policies along with equitable community development initiatives, Nikitra will undoubtedly bring valuable insights to the committee. Her leadership will help ensure that FHFA’s regulated entities serve as reliable sources of liquidity and funding for both single-family and multifamily housing, fostering inclusive and sustainable communities nationwide.

We are immensely proud of Nikitra Bailey for being appointed to the FHFA Advisory Committee. Her passion and dedication to achieving fair housing and expanding access to affordable housing will be invaluable in guiding FHFA’s efforts. We look forward to her contributions in promoting equitable and sustainable housing solutions that benefit underserved communities.

NFHA remains committed to its mission of eliminating housing discrimination and ensuring equal access to housing opportunities for everyone. Nikitra Bailey’s appointment is a significant step towards advancing these goals and creating positive change within the housing finance sector.”

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The National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) is the country’s only national civil rights organization dedicated solely to eliminating all forms of housing and lending discrimination and ensuring equal opportunities for all people. Through its homeownership, credit access, tech equity, education, member services, public policy, community development, and enforcement initiatives, NFHA works to dismantle longstanding barriers to equity and build diverse, inclusive, well-resourced communities.

The post NFHA Applauds Appointment of Nikitra Bailey to FHFA’s Inaugural Federal Advisory Committee on Affordable, Equitable, and Sustainable Housing appeared first on NFHA.

NFHA Statement on Court Ruling to Halt Grants Geared Toward Black Women Entrepreneurs

Washington, D.C. — The National Fair Housing Alliance® (NFHA) released the following statement from Executive Vice President Nikitra Bailey in response to the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals panel’s decision to halt Atlanta, GA-based Fearless Fund’s grant program for Black women:

“The Eleventh Circuit Court’s decision is part of a larger unwise attempt to dismantle Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs nationwide and stymie decades of Civil Rights progress. It is no coincidence that the same forces behind the Supreme Court’s 2023 anti-affirmative action ruling are also behind this court decision.

“For centuries, this country has used race and gender to entrench policies and practices that intentionally prevented women and people of color from buying homes, getting a quality education, and entering certain industries. The effects of that can still be felt today, particularly for Black women who have been effectively shut out by venture capitalists and only account for 1.4 percent of the C-suite. Furthermore, communities of color have been and often continue to be underserved by mainstream banks and other financial institutions that might offer resources for starting a new business and building wealth. The reality is advancing racial equity is the rising tide that lifts all boats. The U.S. economy can grow by $5 trillion over the next five years if we effectively address discrimination targeted at Black communities.

“It is telling that the forces at play in this case did not bring a challenge to the Paycheck Protection Program, where over 90 percent of the first round of $350 billion in federal taxpayer funds went to White-owned businesses due to discriminatory barriers that overwhelmingly impacted Black and Latino business owners. As a result, 40 percent of Black-owned and 32 percent of Latino-owned businesses closed in the early days of the global COVID19 pandemic.

“After centuries of using race as a tool to deny certain groups pathways to wealth-building and opportunity, it is cruel and disingenuous to now insist that race cannot be a factor as organizations – like the Fearless Fund – work to remedy past and current harms. We need race-conscious solutions not platitudes about race neutrality. Despite the court’s misguided and disheartening decision, we will remain committed to the work of advancing racial equity and ensuring that this country is a place of opportunity for everyone.”

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The National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) is the country’s only national civil rights organization dedicated solely to eliminating all forms of housing and lending discrimination and ensuring equal opportunities for all people. Through its homeownership, credit access, tech equity, education, member services, public policy, community development, and enforcement initiatives, NFHA works to dismantle longstanding barriers to equity and build diverse, inclusive, well-resourced communities.

The post NFHA Statement on Court Ruling to Halt Grants Geared Toward Black Women Entrepreneurs appeared first on NFHA.

NFHA Statement After Supreme Court Rejects Challenge to Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Funding Structure

Washington, D.C. — The National Fair Housing Alliance® (NFHA) released the following statement from Executive Vice President Nikitra Bailey in response to the Supreme Court rejecting a challenge to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) funding structure.

“Today’s 7-2 ruling by the United States Supreme Court is a victory for consumers and sends a resounding message once and for all that the CFPB’s legitimacy is incontrovertible. For more than two years, opponents – led by payday lenders – have steered ongoing attacks to undermine the agency’s legitimacy and efficacy. NFHA was one of the key leaders that worked to create the CFPB after the Housing Crisis of 2008 ravaged communities of color and triggered the Great Recession, resulting in a loss of $1 trillion in wealth for Black and Latino households. Because of the impact of the crisis, NFHA played a leading role in developing the CFPB’s Office of Fair Lending and Enforcement. Time and again, the CFPB has unequivocally demonstrated the importance of its mission through groundbreaking efforts, such as enforcement actions that have provided billions of dollars in relief to millions of victims of financial abuse, robust regulations that protect consumers in today’s complex financial environment and leading-edge research that provides insights into consumer financial behavior. The CFPB has played and will continue to play an indispensable role in our communities.

“The industry giants tried to go unchecked, but today, fairness won, and that’s a victory for all people and families.”

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The National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) is the country’s only national civil rights organization dedicated solely to eliminating all forms of housing and lending discrimination and ensuring equal opportunities for all people. Through its homeownership, credit access, tech equity, education, member services, public policy, community development, and enforcement initiatives, NFHA works to dismantle longstanding barriers to equity and build diverse, inclusive, well-resourced communities.

The post NFHA Statement After Supreme Court Rejects Challenge to Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Funding Structure appeared first on NFHA.

Congress Must Take Broader, Swift Action to Protect People and Communities Against AI Harms

Washington, D.C. — Lisa Rice, President and CEO of the National Fair Housing Alliance® (NFHA), issued the following statement in response to the Senate AI Working Group’s report, A Roadmap for Artificial Intelligence Policy in the United States, released yesterday by a bipartisan group of senators:

“We applaud Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY), Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD), Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM), and Senator Todd Young (R-IN) for taking an important first step to address the rapidly evolving AI landscape. We need this type of bipartisan collaboration to put in place proper guardrails for technologies that impact every aspect of our lives including determining whether we can secure housing, access credit, be gainfully employed, or get medical treatment.

“As I shared in my testimony last year during the Senate AI Insight Forum on High Impact AI, automated systems hold significant risks, including bias and discrimination risks, which can severely harm people. The risks are not insurmountable if the proper controls are put in place. We are pleased the roadmap acknowledges AI bias is real and notes that existing civil rights and consumer protection laws can apply to automated decision-making systems and processes.  

“However, the roadmap kicks the can down the road leaving the public waiting for specific legislation to take on a host of AI-related challenges. The plan focuses heavily on enhancing national competitiveness and spurring market innovation, yet there is a conspicuous absence in prioritizing the adoption of responsible AI principles, particularly those aimed at fostering fairness and trustworthiness in AI systems. Furthermore, the report lacks specific recommendations to guide Congress in crafting legislation to tackle a plethora of civil and human rights issues arising from the growing use of AI. Glaring omissions include detailed provisions for eliminating bias in AI systems used in credit, employment, health, education, policing, and criminal justice.  

“While increasing funding for AI innovation is important, it is equally imperative that Congress adequately fund efforts to promote fairness, explainability, transparency, accuracy, and trustworthiness in AI systems. Congress must also provide sufficient funding to ensure compliance with civil rights and consumer protection laws. This is crucial since studies show unethical and biased tech harms people and communities and stifles the nation’s economic progress.

“NFHA has long been at the forefront of working to create a fairer AI landscape. Through our Responsible AI Lab, we work to advance policy, technical, and other solutions to debias existing technologies; increase transparency and explainability for AI tools; outline ethical standards for responsible technologies; develop effective regulation; ensure AI systems have humans in the loop; and increase diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in the tech field.

“We urge Congress to move quickly and look forward to working with Congressional leaders to draft legislation which incorporates recommendations developed by NFHA and other civil rights groups to mitigate existing and emerging AI challenges. Doing so will ensure we do not further entrench bias within our systems and negatively impact individuals and communities while stifling the nation’s economic progress.”

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The National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) is the country’s only national civil rights organization dedicated solely to eliminating all forms of housing and lending discrimination and ensuring equal opportunities for all people. As the trade association for over 170 fair housing and justice-centered organizations and individuals throughout the U.S. and its territories, NFHA works to dismantle longstanding barriers to equity and build diverse, inclusive, well-resourced communities.

The post Congress Must Take Broader, Swift Action to Protect People and Communities Against AI Harms appeared first on NFHA.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 14, 2024
Media Contacts:
National Fair Housing Alliance: Janelle Brevard | jbrevard@nationalfairhousing.org
Fair Housing Rights Center: Angela McIver | amciver@fairhousingrights.org
Housing Equality Center: Rachel Wentworth | wentworth@equalhousing.org

NFHA and Fellow Fair Housing Advocates File Complaint Against National Tenant Screening Software Company

Complaint Alleges Discrimination Against
Housing Voucher Holders in Memphis, TN, and Philadelphia, PA

Washington, D.C. — Today, the National Fair Housing Alliance® (NFHA), the Fair Housing Rights Center in Southeastern Pennsylvania (FHRC), and the Housing Equality Center of Pennsylvania (HECP) filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) against Tenant Turner, Inc., for its treatment of Memphis and Philadelphia residents seeking housing opportunities.  

Tenant Turner is a Richmond, VA-based web lead management and tenant screening software that provides services for property managers nationwide including pre-qualification of prospective tenants. Tenant Turner is believed to display thousands of listings on its website from throughout the country. NFHA, FHRC, and HECP’s complaint alleges that Tenant Turner discriminates based on race by facilitating landlords to generate listings on its website that display a refusal to rent to people who use Housing Choice Vouchers (“HCV”) and designing an algorithm that prohibits voucher holders from scheduling a viewing of rental units that display that refusal in the cities of Memphis, TN, and Philadelphia, PA. The HCV program ensures that people, including veterans, whose incomes have not kept up with rising housing costs can still access stable housing by paying landlords directly for all or part of their rent.

NFHA, FHRC, and HECP’s investigation found that Tenant Turner displays listings online that are “not available for tenants with… a housing voucher,” which is language that Tenant Turner offers to landlords to indicate whether they want to rent to prospective tenants with vouchers, even in cities or counties with local ordinances that prohibit discrimination against source of income, including voucher holders. Through over 40 tests of Tenant Turner’s pre-screening survey that sets up showings of rental units on listings that display housing choice voucher restrictions, NFHA, FHRC, and HECP found that testers with housing vouchers were unable to schedule a viewing of the rental unit. The testers would reach a screen from Tenant Turner that stated, “Sorry,” and “This property is not available for tenants with… a housing voucher.” Fair housing testing is a controlled method of documenting the quality and quantity of information provided to home seekers by rental firms and their housing managers. Testing also helps uncover the nature and extent of potential housing discrimination. Through data collected from August 2022 to March 2023, NFHA’s analysis revealed more than 4,005 listings with housing choice voucher restrictions in 23 localities with source of income protections, including Memphis, TN, and Philadelphia, PA.

Tenant screening platforms, like Tenant Turner, that facilitate discrimination against HCV holders deprive families of the right to choose the housing that is best for them and increase the likelihood that people will experience housing instability, face homelessness, or suffer other harms. In 2023, the online home rental market was valued at around $18.24 billion, with significant expansions anticipated in the years to come. Consumers’ search for housing is becoming increasingly digital, and while this can make information on units and neighborhoods more broadly accessible, it can also aid in discrimination by making it easier for landlords or housing providers to choose home seekers based on their preferences or biases. With more and more housing providers using platforms, like Tenant Turner, that automate the tenant screening and rental viewing process, discrimination against HCV holders is now increasingly encoded or facilitated by algorithms and software.

The nation is in the midst of a fair and affordable housing crisis with housing experts projecting the U.S. needs at least an additional 7.3 million affordable housing units. Moreover, wages have not kept pace with rising housing costs. While housing prices have increased by roughly 160 percent since 2000, wages have only increased by about 70 percent.

“Rising rents are putting housing out of reach for millions, particularly people of color, persons living with disabilities, low- and moderate-income families, veterans, and frontline workers who have been hardest-hit by the ongoing COVID-19 health and economic crisis. When real estate companies and property managers deny voucher holders, they are denying people access to safe, affordable housing and the many opportunities that come with that. More protections are needed for renters who rely on housing vouchers, and everyone, including government, must utilize their powers to prevent the unfair practice of discrimination against those who use the vital HCV program,” said Lisa Rice, NFHA’s President and CEO. 

“Philadelphia is known for many things, including being the poorest large city in the nation. Also, the Philadelphia Fair Practices Ordinance protects people based on their source of income. However, when an online tenant screening company’s software excludes people with Housing Choice Vouchers, that is discriminatory and cruel. Denying humans access to housing violates their basic needs and civil rights. Corporations benefit from government support, and low-income persons, regardless of race, should also. As a nation, we have so many resources that offset the need for safe, discriminatory-free, and affordable housing. The HCV program is a housing solution for low- and moderate-income persons needing financial assistance. Nonetheless, discriminatory practices by online tenant screening companies’ software create barriers to housing and manufacture new social problems, including being unhoused, which could contribute to other challenges that impact us all,” said Angela McIver, FHRC’s CEO. 

“In HECP’s testing investigations over the past three years, we have found that rental housing providers in Philadelphia tell prospective tenants that Housing Choice Vouchers are not accepted at their properties 68 percent of the time. These investigations tell us that long-standing source of income protections are routinely and blatantly disregarded by landlords, property managers, and rental agents throughout the city, a practice that has a disproportionate impact on Black residents. It is apparent that voucher holders regularly face unlawful discrimination as an additional barrier in their search for a limited supply of safe and affordable rental housing in Philadelphia,” said Rachel Wentworth, HECP’s Executive Director. 

The alleged discriminatory practices of Tenant Turner are particularly harmful to Black residents who have long been impacted by inequitable policies and practices, including redlining, appraisal bias, racially restrictive covenants, racial steering, algorithmic bias, and other discriminatory practices. In both Memphis and Philadelphia, Black households are over-represented in the households participating in the HCV Program. In Philadelphia over 80 percent of HCV holders are Black whereas only 9 percent of voucher holders are White, despite the city’s renter population having similar split of Black and White renters, with 44 percent being Black and 39 percent being White. In Memphis, Black residents are similarly disproportionately represented, with 96 percent of households receiving vouchers being Black and only 1 percent of voucher holders being White. The City of Memphis’ renters are about 69 percent Black and 20.6 percent White.

The work that provided the basis for this press release was supported by funding under a grant from 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. 

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The National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) is the country’s only national civil rights organization dedicated solely to eliminating all forms of housing and lending discrimination and ensuring equal opportunities for all people. As the trade association for over 170 fair housing and justice-centered organizations and individuals throughout the U.S. and its territories, NFHA works to dismantle longstanding barriers to equity and build diverse, inclusive, well-resourced communities. 

The mission of the Fair Housing Rights Center in Southeastern Pennsylvania (FHRC) is to ensure equal access to housing opportunities for all. FHRC serves 16 counties in Pennsylvania and addresses fair housing and lending laws to achieve its mission.

The mission of the Housing Equality Center of Pennsylvania is to advance fair and equal access to housing opportunities for all Pennsylvanians. 

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Washington, D.C. — The National Fair Housing Alliance® (NFHA) applauds the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco’s (the Bank) announcement that Alanna McCargo will become the Bank’s next president and chief executive officer.

Ms. McCargo is a noted and well-regarded financial services expert and leader having most recently served as the Government National Mortgage Association’s (Ginnie Mae) president. She was the first woman and woman of color to hold the position. She also served as a senior advisor on housing and finance policy to former HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge. Throughout her impressive career, Ms. McCargo has pioneered and championed policies and programs to advance fair housing and fair lending principles including leading groundbreaking research, while at the Urban Institute, on solutions for expanding access to credit for underserved groups, broadening support for small dollar mortgages, and dismantling barriers to the provisioning of fair and affordable housing.

Ms. McCargo takes the helm of the Bank on the heels of the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s (FHFA) examination of almost 100 years of operation for the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLBank) System writ large. FHFA’s report provided a comprehensive review of the nation’s FHLBanks and a discussion of how the system can best fulfill its mission of 1) providing stable and reliable liquidity to member institutions; and 2) supporting housing and community development. The report lifts up a number of recommendations for reforming the FHLBank System, including proposals championed by NFHA. Importantly, FHFA recommended the Federal Home Loan Banks deepen and expand mission-oriented programs to support sustainable housing finance and community development products that lack a reliable secondary market outlet. FHFA also supported increasing the 10 percent minimum contribution requirement for the FHLBanks’ Affordable Housing Programs. While the current statute establishes the 10 percent minimum contribution, FHLBanks are able to voluntarily increase their contributions.

The FHLBanks are an important and integral component of the U.S. housing finance market. They play a significant role in helping address America’s fair and affordable housing crisis. NFHA looks forward to continued work with the San Francisco FHLBank as well as other Banks in the FHLBank system to more broadly expand access to sustainable credit to underserved groups.

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The National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) is the country’s only national civil rights organization dedicated solely to eliminating all forms of housing and lending discrimination and ensuring equal opportunities for all people. Through its homeownership, credit access, tech equity, education, member services, public policy, community development, and enforcement initiatives, NFHA works to dismantle longstanding barriers to equity and build diverse, inclusive, well-resourced communities.

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