Study finds discrimination against Section 8 vouchers in New Orleans
-------------------------------------------------New Orleans CityBusiness (LA)-August 20, 2009
Author: CityBusiness Staff Reports
More than 80 percent of the time, landlords in the New Orleans metro area refused to accept
Section 8 vouchers or they created requirements that made it impossible for voucher holders to
rent units, according to an investigation by the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center.
The results of the study were released today. A total of 100 rental properties in the metro
area were examined to determine whether landlords would accept the vouchers.
Landlords refused to accept vouchers 75 percent of the time. Of the 25 percent of landlords
who purported to accept vouchers, 7 percent "imposed additional conditions that would have
made it nearly impossible for a voucher holder to rent the property," the study says.
Only 18 percent of the time did landlords say the would accept vouchers without any
obstacles or additional terms and conditions.
The study says discrimination against voucher holders is driven by discrimination two
primary factors: discrimination against low-income blacks and the "dysfunctional"
administration of the voucher program.
According to the report, 8,975 households in the New Orleans Metropolitan Statistical Area
participate in the voucher program. In Orleans Parish, 99 percent of voucher holders are black.
"New Orleans cannot be successful if all residents cannot find decent, safe, affordable
housing," the study says. "This study clearly indicates that a large cross-section of residents is
having significant trouble doing so."
NewsRecord Number: 515550
Copyright, 2009, New Orleans CityBusiness (LA))