City of Philadelphia - File #: 130735

• File #: 130735
• Version: 0
• Type: Resolution
• Status: ADOPTED
• File created: 10/10/2013
• In control: Joint Committees on Public Safety and Housing, Neighborhood Development & The Homeless
• Title: Calling for joint hearings by the Committee on Public Safety and the Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development and the Homeless to explore methods of detecting and mitigating subtle forms of discrimination that create barriers to minority renters and homebuyers in Philadelphia.
• Sponsors: Councilmember Jones, Councilmember Blackwell, Councilmember Reynolds Brown, Councilmember Greenlee, Councilmember Goode, Councilmember Kenney, Councilmember O'Brien, Council President Clarke, Councilmember Tasco, Councilmember Oh, Councilmember Bass, Councilmember Green, Councilmember Quiñones Sánchez, Councilmember Squilla, Councilmember Henon, Councilmember Johnson

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result	Tally
10/30/2013	0	Joint Committees on Public Safety and Housing, Neighborhood Development & The Homeless	HEARING HELD
10/30/2013	0	Joint Committees on Public Safety and Housing, Neighborhood Development & The Homeless	RECESSED
10/10/2013	0	CITY COUNCIL	Introduced and Ordered Placed on This Week's Final Passage Calendar	Pass
10/10/2013	0	CITY COUNCIL	ADOPTED & REFERRED

Title
Calling for joint hearings by the Committee on Public Safety and the Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development and the Homeless to explore methods of detecting and mitigating subtle forms of discrimination that create barriers to minority renters and homebuyers in Philadelphia.

Body
WHEREAS, On June 11, 2013, the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (H.U.D), in collaboration with the Urban Institute, released the findings of their 2012 Housing Discrimination Against Racial and Ethnic Minorities study (the Study); and

WHEREAS, The Study found that blatant forms of discrimination within the homeownership and rental markets have declined. However, more subtle forms of discrimination persist. The study measured the degree to which African American, Hispanic, and Asian renters and home buyers are informed about housing options and shown housing units in comparison to equally qualified Caucasians; and

WHEREAS, As it relates to home buyers, nationally, there is no marked disparity between Hispanics and Caucasians; however, African Americans were shown 17.7% fewer housing units than equally qualified Caucasians, and Asians were shown 18.8% fewer housing units than equally qualified Caucasians; and

WHEREAS, Subtle discrimination significantly impacts ethnic and racial minorities by limiting their rental and home buying options, increasing the move in costs and the time investment in property searches. Limiting housing options and withholding financial information from minorities, are examples of modern day segregation, and redlining; and

WHEREAS, The results for Philadelphia are incredibly alarming; the City tested above the national average for having rental agents who show African Americans fewer apartment units, than equally qualified Caucasians. Philadelphia also tested above the national average for having rental agents who do not tell African Americans about available rental units for which they are qualified; and
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