Del. Community Aid Legal Society Inc. gets federal support to fight housing discrimination

DELAWARE – The fight against housing discrimination in the First State is getting a shot in the arm thanks to federal funding.

Funding Granted as Needs Grow

The Delaware Community Legal Aid Society Inc. (CLASI) received a $425,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Attorneys at CLASI say the money will help them to serve more Delawareans facing housing discrimination.

“Discrimination covers a broad array of issues,” said Sarah Spangler Rhine, managing attorney of CLASI’s housing unit. “It can affect people in different areas of the state, in different socioeconomic classes, and in different neighborhoods.”

Housing Shortage Feeds Discrimination, Attorneys Say

Activities will include investigating alleged housing discrimination, doing undercover testing to uncover discriminatory practices, filing complaints on behalf of victims, and engaging in public education and outreach.

All of that work is proving to be vitally important in the face of a nationwide housing shortage, says Spangler Rhine.

“That puts people in a position where they might be accessing housing that’s unsafe or unhealthy. Or, it doesn’t have the features necessary for them to use and enjoy the housing, or it’s extremely unaffordable,” Spangler Rhine said. “Because there’s such a demand for affordable housing, it allows people to engage in discrimination when they’re choosing what person can rent or buy a home.”

Know Your Rights

Housing discrimination is starting to touch many more lives than it did in the past, Spangler Rhine added. She says it’s for that reason that this type of discrimination is cropping up more frequently in conversations about community needs.

“Anyone on the street can tell you that there’s a problem with people accessing safe, affordable housing because we all know someone who’s had problems,” Spangler Rhine said. “As housing becomes more of a topic of conversation, we are also becoming more acutely aware of how people are accessing that housing, and who may not have that same access.”

Spangler Rhine says the team at CLASI is very grateful for the grant funding from HUD. She also encourages anyone who may be a victim of housing discrimination to reach out to CLASI for help.