ECBAWM Sues Suburban Landlord Alleging Race Discrimination

  • September 20, 2018

ECBAWM filed suit in federal district court alleging racially discriminatory rental practices at a 53-unit Eastchester apartment building in Westchester County, New York. The Fair Housing Justice Center sent similarly qualified White and African-American testers posing as potential renters to the building to inquire about the availability of apartments for rent and the application process. The 2018 tests revealed that the building superintendent treated African-Americans less favorably than Whites, including refusing to give them applications, showing them fewer apartments, and/or falsely claiming there was a waiting list or contracts pending on vacant apartments. The building is in a census tract that is less than 3% African-American but is adjacent to communities with a 20% or higher African-American population. The plaintiffs are represented by Diane L. Houk.