Survey: Blacks face housing bias in New Orleans

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070425/ap_on_re_us/new_orleans_housing

Survey: Blacks face housing bias in N.O.

Blacks already feeling the pinch from a housing shortage in the New Orleans area after Hurricane Katrina are facing racial discrimination in their search for rental property, a survey by housing advocates found.

The survey sent black and white "testers" — paired by matching incomes, careers, family types and rental histories — to inquire about openings at 40 rental properties in metropolitan New Orleans.

The findings, released Tuesday by the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center, found blacks encountered "less favorable treatment" than their white counterparts in 57.5 percent of those tests.

In one example, an agent told the black tester who responded to an apartment ad on Jan. 22 that only one unit was available, and not until February. The same agent told the white tester later that day that two units would available Feb. 1 and mentioned two other units.
Tammy Esponge, association executive for the Apartment Association of Greater New Orleans, she has no reason to believe housing discrimination is more acute in New Orleans than in other parts of the country.

"There's discrimination all the time out there — not just in the apartment market. I'm talking all over the place," she said. "But we are highly in support of our members enforcing the fair housing laws."

She said her group offers annual fair housing training seminars for its members, which include 34 owners and managers of 20,000 rental units in southeast Louisiana.
James Perry, executive director of the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center, said the group intends to sue several landlords.

"At a time when people need housing desperately, we really can't stand to have discrimination occurring," Perry said.

"When The Levees Broke" playing at the College of Law - April 19

"This intimate, heart-rending portrait of New Orleans in the wake of the destruction tells the heartbreaking personal stories of those who endured this harrowing ordeal and survived to tell the tale of misery, despair and triumph."

http://www.hbo.com/docs/programs/whentheleveesbroke/

This Spike Lee documentary will be playing as part of the Social Justice Film Festival at the College of Law on Thursday, April 19. Let's have a big showing of Student Hurricane Network participant at the viewing/discussion to show our support for the people of NOLA. A post-discussion led will be led by Professor Victoria Hadfield.

Thursday, April 19, 6:30pm
Room A
Law Building

Tracie Washington fan club - Illinois Chapter

I think the rest of the College of Law discovered on Friday why the Student Hurricane Network students are unofficial Tracie Washington (TW) groupies. Tracie has such a commanding presence. Maybe its because she is a kick-ass corporate attorney turned civil rights lawyer. Maybe because she can rock out a bright green jacket. Is it her uncanny sense of humor?

I think part of what makes TW so appealing is the fact that she is so darn humble. She doesn't realize she has budding law student fans across the country. She doesn't realize (or at least doesn't acknowlege it) that she's a civil rights superstar. She readily admits she likes buying expensive shoes...but when called to duty...she has forgone those luxuries in favor of doing what she can to try to save her city.

Tracie Washington at COL on Friday!

http://www.law.uiuc.edu/content/news/article.asp?id=953

Come to the New Orleans Judge Arthur Hunter - 75th Anniversary of Powell v. Alabama Conference, where Tracie will be one of the guest speakers. The conference is in the Auditorium from 1-4pm, but students are allowed to come later/leave early because of class. Hope to see you there!

Welcome!

Welcome to the University of Illinois Student Hurriane Network! We are a group of law students who are committed to providing continuing relief to the gulf coast region in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.