Hispanic Heritage Month is an annual month-long celebration of Hispanic and Latino history and culture, between September 15 and October 15. The Latino population in the United States today is over 60 million, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, making it the largest racial or ethnic group. Hispanic and Latino Americans enrich our nation, and their contributions should be celebrated. At the same time, let us also recognize the barriers that still stand in the way of fair housing for Hispanic and Latino communities, as we work to create a more equitable nation for all people.
National Origin as a Protected Class
Far too often, Hispanic Americans experience housing discrimination on the basis of their national origin. National origin discrimination occurs when a person is denied housing, treated unfavorably, or offered different terms based on their (actual or perceived) birthplace, culture, or language.
The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing-related transactions on the basis of national origin. In Ohio, our state fair housing laws also protect residents from discrimination on the basis of ancestry. Ancestry is similar to the national origin protection, except it goes a step further. Not only does it protect you from discrimination based on the country you were born in, it also protects you regardless of where your parents, grandparents, or ancestors were born.
According to fair housing law, a person cannot be denied housing opportunities based on:
- Being from or having family from another country.
- Having a name or accent associated with a national origin group.
- Participation in certain customs associated with a national origin group.
- Being married to or associated with people of a certain national origin.
Examples of Housing Discrimination
The following are examples of housing discrimination based on national origin or ancestry:
- A housing provider will not rent to someone who speaks a language other than English.
- A housing provider charges a higher security deposit or rent to a tenant because the tenant or tenant’s relative was born in another country.
- A real estate agent only shows a homebuyer certain housing opportunities based on customs associated with the homebuyer’s national origin or ancestry.
Fair Housing and Immigration Status
It is important to note that the Fair Housing Act protects people from discrimination regardless of immigration or citizenship status. Landlords are able to ask for identification documents and perform credit checks in order to financially qualify a person for housing. However, a landlord should apply the same procedure for all potential tenants. Procedures to screen potential tenants for citizenship and immigration status, such as asking for a green card (permanent resident card) or visa verification, may violate the Fair Housing Act.
Housing Barriers for Hispanic Americans
Hispanic Home Seekers Experience Housing Discrimination
Unfortunately, even with these long-standing fair housing protections, Hispanic and Latino Americans still experience discrimination and housing barriers at higher rates than white Americans. According to a recent poll, “31 percent of Latinos report that at some point in their lives they experienced discrimination because they are Latino when looking for a house or apartment.” Hispanic renters are more likely to be shown fewer housing units and to be told that there are no units available, compared to their white counterparts. An internal HUD report found that “Hispanics are given 12.5 percent fewer options for housing units than whites and shown 7.5 percent fewer housing units than whites.” In addition to being shown less units and receiving fewer call-backs from housing providers, “Latinos are also provided with less advantageous financing information, quoted higher fees, and more extensive application materials than their white counterparts.”
Discrimination is not limited to those who rent, either. An analysis from Zillow showed that nationally, 15.5% of Latinos were denied a conventional loan, in comparison to only 8.1% of white borrowers. Additionally, Latinos are 78% more likely to have a high-cost home loan, resulting in large homeownership gaps between Latinos and white homeowners.
When Hispanic-Sounding Names Result in Discrimination
Often, Hispanic and Latino residents experience housing discrimination before ever meeting a housing provider. Studies show that prospective renters with Hispanic-sounding names receive fewer responses from housing providers, based on their name alone. One study found that “names perceived to be white got a response 5.6 percentage points more than Black-sounding names, and 2.8 percentage points more than Hispanic-sounding names.”
For one Louisiana couple, this type of discrimination is all too familiar. Gustavo Douaihi, a geologist from Venezuela, and his wife Laura Smith, a high school teacher from Alabama, were looking to rent a house in Baton Rouge. When a larger home became available for rent in their neighborhood, Douaihi left a voicemail with his name, expressing interest in the home. After not hearing back, he called again a week later, but still received no reply. Then, Smith called, leaving a similar voicemail and her name. Within five minutes, she received a reply from the landlord. In an NPR interview, Smith remarked, “It was so clear that the landlord responded differently to me than to my husband. The only different information she had between the two voicemails was … a Hispanic name.”
Denial of Housing Choice Vouchers Presents Barriers for Hispanic Recipients
In most jurisdictions throughout Ohio, housing providers can legally discriminate against tenants using Housing Choice Vouchers (HCVs). By refusing to accept vouchers, many housing providers undermine voucher recipients’ ability to find housing and use their vouchers in higher opportunity areas. In Lorain County, Ohio, 63.6% of people using housing vouchers are African American, Hispanic/Latino, or both, and are clustered in racially segregated areas with high concentrations of poverty, low educational opportunities, and high exposure to environmental health hazards. Source of income (SOI) protections could promote greater mobility for voucher holders by prohibiting housing providers from discriminating against tenants utilizing the HCV Program. In turn, increased SOI protections would help to expand housing opportunities for Hispanic/Latino residents, who make up a large part of the program.
Breaking Down Housing Barriers
Acknowledging the barriers that stand in the way of fair housing for Hispanic Americans allows us to envision the path to a more equitable future. While many obstacles still persist, researchers have found some positive news, as well. First off, the Hispanic homeownership rate has increased for eight consecutive years, and they are the only demographic to have eight straight years of growth. Additionally, the Urban Institute predicted that “over the next 20 years, 70% of growth in homeownership will come from the Latino community.” Gary Acosta, Co-Founder & CEO of the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP), suggests that one way to reduce discrimination in the housing market is to increase diversity within the industry, increasing the overall number of Hispanic real estate agents and mortgage lenders.
Fair housing organizations, like the Fair Housing Center for Rights & Research, are available to help those who have experienced housing discrimination due to their national origin, or another protected class. It is our mission to protect and expand fair housing rights, eliminate housing discrimination, and promote integrated communities. To learn more about your fair housing rights and to speak with an advocate, contact The Fair Housing Center. Additionally, those living outside of Northeast Ohio can find their local fair housing agency here.