Kim Kendrick, assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, encouraged Chinese tenants to report housing discrimination. She assured anyone who might have hesitated that there will be no inquiries about immigration status and that reports can be filed anonymously. The government will investigate the complaints and take the necessary action if the discrimination is confirmed. If there is a dispute, the government can also facilitate mediation.

Kendrick, head of Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity – which handles housing discrimination cases under HUD – made the above statement when she visited the Chinatown office of Asian Americans For Equality (AAFE) on September 25.

Kendrick pointed out that the Fair Housing Law, passed in 1968, protects all U.S. residents from housing discrimination, regardless of their age, gender, race, color, nationality, disability and other factors. The government is required to take action within 100 days of receiving a complaint. Her office alone handled over 10, 000 cases last year, 38 percent of which is race related.

Kendrick pointed out that each case is dealt with individually. She gave one example in which a male landlord proposed to a female tenant to exchange sex for rent. Kendrick said it is against the law to make this kind of solicitation. With a landlord like that, she said, it is most likely that he has made similar propositions before. Kendrick added that she can usually find other witnesses for a case.

To deal with racial discrimination cases, the office will send out investigators of different racial origins, disguised as renters or buyers, to talk to the landlords to determine the validity of the complaints.

HUD has 42 offices all across the United States and cooperates with 210 community-based organizations, of which Asian Americans For Equality is one. Together they work to educate the communities and to investigate housing discrimination. AAFE published a Chinese version of the Fair Housing Guide to educate the public about housing laws and their rights. To make a housing discrimination complaint, people can call the toll-free number 1-800-669-9777 and ask for Chinese assistance. They can also seek help directly from AAFE at 212-964-2288 or 718-961-0888.