Nonprofit Alleges Widespread Discrimination Of CA Section 8 Tenants

CALIFORNIA — An investigation by the Housing Rights Initiative found that California residents who presented Section 8 housing vouchers were turned away by more than 200 landlords, real estate agents and brokerage firms, the nonprofit announced Monday.

The watchdog group filed complaints with the California Civil Rights Department this week, alleging widespread discrimination and violation of a state law that protects low-income renters who hold Housing Choice Vouchers, also known as Section 8.

The nonprofit seeks penalties against 203 parties, according to a release.

Senate Bill 329, signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2019, makes it illegal for landlords to refuse applicants with housing vouchers.

"The goal of this historic filing is to enforce the very bill he signed into law with the power of his own enforcement agency," said Aaron Carr, founder and executive director of Housing Rights Initiative. "It’s time for California to get tough on real estate crime."

The nonprofit deployed undercover investigators for more than a year to pose as prospective tenants with Section 8 vouchers. Investigators contacted hundreds of brokers and landlords by text message to test their compliance with California's fair housing laws, according to the news release.

After a year, the investigation revealed that Section 8 tenants were turned away 44% of the time in San Francisco; 53% of the time in Oakland; 58% of the time in San Jose and 70% of the time in Los Angeles.

In one instance, a text message between an undercover investigator and a Sotheby's International Realty employee, the investigator asked "I have a Section 8 voucher am I able to use that here?" and the worker replied "No, sorry that won't work."

The nonprofit compiled a spreadsheet with screenshots of similar text message conversations between more than 200 parties.

"This mass filing, as historic as it is, represents just a fraction of the voucher discrimination that has been running rampant in California. By exposing this widespread and harmful practice, we call on the State to provide agencies like the California Civil Rights Department with the resources they need to eradicate voucher discrimination once and for all," said Kate Liggett, program director of Housing Rights Initiative.