Sonoma County Section 8 Renters Face Widespread Discrimination: Study

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — Section 8 renters in three North Bay counties including Sonoma face widespread discrimination, a newly released report alleges.

Tests conducted in Sonoma County revealed the highest incidence of race discrimination (63 percent) and source of income discrimination (88 percent), with 92 percent revealing at least some evidence of either or both, according to the Fair Housing Advocates of Northern California (FHANC) study’s findings.

California residents receiving housing choice vouchers (also known as “Section 8”) are protected from discrimination under amendments to the California Fair Employment and Housing Act made in January 2020.

The amendments made it illegal to discriminate against or exclude tenants and applicants because they have a Section 8 voucher.

Housing providers in Solano County evidenced the least discrimination, with 32 percent of tests revealing evidence of race discrimination and 44 percent revealing evidence of source of income discrimination.

A third (33.3 percent) of Marin landlords surveyed revealed evidence of racial discrimination and 57.1 percent showed evidence of discrimination based on income.

The study investigated 69 rental properties in the three counties from December 2021 through April 2022, with 27 properties in Marin County, 22 in Solano County, and 20 in Sonoma County.

Trained pairs of testers — one Black, one white — posing as potential renters with housing choice vouchers, called to inquire about whether the property accepted Section 8 vouchers and, if so, whether voucher holders were required to meet a minimum income threshold in order to qualify for the unit.

At over 70 percent of the housing providers FHANC tested, there was evidence of discrimination on the basis of race and/or source of income; with evidence of discrimination at 62 percent on the basis of source of income, and 42 percent on the basis of race.

“The results of our investigation plainly show that despite the recent expansion of California’s fair housing laws protecting source of income, people with housing subsidies still face significant barriers in housing,” FHANC Executive Director Caroline Peattie said in a statement.

“It’s clear that more enforcement actions are needed, as well as increased education and outreach to property owners and managers, particularly those of smaller properties and in areas where instances of discrimination were the highest.

“The fact that housing providers were willing to openly state their discriminatory voucher policies suggests that at least some may have been unaware of their legal obligations, which really points to the need for increased education and outreach.”