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Diversity: Equal Housing Indicator Most discrimination complaints are related to rental housing. Discrimination on the basis of race, family status, national origin, and disability are the most common concerns.
Source: Hope Fair Housing Center ABOUT THE INDICATOR This indicator is included in the diversity section because it helps us measure our tolerance of our increasingly diverse population. The information presented is based on complaints about alleged discriminatory practices filed with the HOPE Fair Housing Center in Wheaton. The first chart compares complaints from people trying to rent units with complaints registered by those trying to buy homes in 2000 and 2002. The second chart illustrates the types of alleged discrimination that are occurring. Some individuals were allegedly denied housing on the basis of race or national origin; national origin complaints come most often from persons of Hispanic descent, which is not a racial category. A family status complaint involves alleged discrimination based on the presence of children in the family, or because the parents are divorced. Disability complaints include those where the complainant was allegedly denied housing because of physical, mental, or perceived disabilities, or because he or she is HIV positive or suffering from AIDS. OBSERVATIONS In 2002, more than 850 fair housing complaints were filed in DuPage County, compared with less than 600 in 2000. Most complaints came from individuals or families attempting to rent housing. More than 50 percent of the fair housing complaints in 2002 alleged discrimination on the basis of race or national origin, and 27 percent were based on family status. TAPESTRYMany community factors, such as ethnic, religious, or economic diversity, education levels, and the overall economy, can have an impact on whether or not home renters or buyers are treated fairly. As the number of foreign-born citizens continues to rise, DuPage County will become increasingly diverse. While a diverse community makeup is healthy, it also presents opportunities for discrimination. On the other hand, communities with higher levels of education, like DuPage, tend to have lower instances of housing discrimination. According to HUD, external factors that affect equal housing include broad, vigorous, sustained, economic growth, which ultimately provides opportunities for minorities and women to succeed. Greater economic success among minorities and women leads to greater integration within other facets of society. COMMENTARY by Bernard J. Kleina, Executive Director, HOPE Fair Housing “Fair housing means all citizens can freely choose a place to live without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or the fact that they are disabled or have children in the family. Last year, however, HOPE received approximately 1,200 complaints of housing, lending, and home insurance discrimination. The solution to inequality in housing rests within each one of us. Unfair practices do not happen in a vacuum. All of us either see them, feel them, hear them, fight them, ignore them, profit from them, suffer from them, initiate them, provoke them, perpetuate them, or die from them.” HOW TO GET INVOLVED OR LEARN MORE
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