The Equal Rights Center recently conducted a survey to determine the effects of race on housing discrimination. The non-profit organization tested 45 individuals in Washington, D.C., and 15 in Northern Virginia, with a focus on women, since the group has seen an increase in female incarceration rates. Testing included pairs of women – one white and one black – with similar criminal histories and revealed that about 47 percent of the landlords favorited the white female potential tenant. ERC’s testing also uncovered instances of possible discriminatory treatment that made it impossible for black women with felony charges to be selected for housing.
