A study published in Contemporary Economic Policy examined the impact of Minneapolis’ renter protection policies, which limit landlords’ use of background checks, eviction history, and credit scores. The research found that while these policies reduced certain barriers to housing, they inadvertently increased discrimination against African American and Somali American men. Landlords, lacking detailed applicant information, reportedly relied more on stereotypes, leading to higher discrimination rates compared to the neighboring city of St. Paul, where such policies were not implemented.
