Immigrants are facing a housing crisis: Here’s what you need to know
Imagine you have recently immigrated to a new country where you do not have a job, home, support system, or legal status, nor do you speak the language. You would likely prioritize housing first, but where do you start?
You begin the search for an apartment for you and your family. You find a property that looks promising and you decide to apply because you need to find housing quickly. You ask for an application but then realize it requires a social security number or United States-issued birth certificate which you do not have. Because of your status, there is no way for you to get these. What do you do? Do you walk away from that opportunity, or do you ask if there is an alternative way for you to apply and still provide them with the information they require?
Most rental housing providers follow the same basic application process for prospective tenants: you find a property, you set up a time to tour, you submit an application (and the associated fees), and then, if approved, you move in.
Typically, the application process requires documentation to verify identity, credit history, one’s ability to afford rent (may include employment history or pay stubs), a general background check, and records of rental history. But what if you did not have one or more of those requested documents? This process prevents some immigrants from learning what their options are and ultimately losing housing opportunities.
With 6% vacancy rates and skyrocketing rents, access to housing opportunities is becoming increasingly difficult, especially for immigrants. This tight housing market negatively impacts housing consumers, oftentimes leaving them to settle for units that are outside of their affordable range and/or accepting substandard housing conditions simply to have a roof over their heads. It is also important to note the sheer expense of applying, including application fees, security deposits, administrative fees, moving costs, and more that present a clear financial burden on renters.
FHCCI Side Note: Unfortunately, the FHCCI notes that when vacancy rates decrease, opportunities for housing discrimination increases. Housing discrimination against national origin, including immigrant populations, may look like any of the following:
Being told that they cannot rent to you unless you speak English;
Given stricter tenant screening or applications due to your national origin, including more barriers to prove your ability to rent when compared to other national origins; and
Unlawful harassment or intimidation, such as threatening to report you to authorities or telling you to “go back to your country” by a property manager.
When you consider that most housing providers ask for “standard” identifying documents, such as a social security number or U.S.-issued birth certificate, immigrant populations face additional barriers to housing stability. As a result, they enter into an application process that in many cases lacks the interactive process to allow members from immigrant populations the ability to verify and show their identity, credit history, and rental history, in alternative ways. Alternative documentation could include a work permit, letter from an employer, a consulate card, and many more. It also is important to consider other barriers in the application process, such as potential language barriers, high application costs, access to reliable transportation, and discrimination.
From 2021 to 2022, Immigrant Welcome Center (IWC) assisted the immigrant population with rental assistance. Many immigrant families had been affected by the pandemic and qualified for rental assistance but found it challenging to provide the documents needed to prove they had been affected due to their legal status in the country. In 2021, resources related to housing and utilities were the most searched in Immigrant Welcome Center’s database. It's still in the top 3. To learn more about the immigrant populations and the work of the IWC in Indiana, click here to read our annual report.
The FHCCI (Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana), with help from the Immigrant Welcome Center, recently adapted a multi-lingual resource that helps address this key issue. This resource outlines information on suggested alternative documents that can be provided during the application screening process to establish rental criteria such as identity, credit, and past rental history. It also provides helpful organizational resources such as the FHCCI and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau that can provide further guidance to those populations who are looking for or denied housing due to lack of “standard documentation.” It is also available in Spanish and can be available in other languages upon request.
What can you do to help end housing discrimination? Are you interested in making fair housing a reality in your community?
The FHCCI needs a diverse group of dependable people, 18 years and older, to assist in gathering information about housing practices. These persons are commonly referred to as “fair housing testers” or “mystery shoppers.” Testers are provided training and a stipend for their time and related expenses. Stipends vary depending on the task assigned. For more information on how to become a fair housing tester, please check out the FHCCI website or call the FHCCI office for more information.
Quick links to FHCCI Immigrant/Refugee Fair Housing Resources:
Suggested Alternative Documents for Screening Immigrant Populations
Immigrants, Refugees, and People of All Religious Faiths Fair Housing Rights Fact Sheet
If you need any of these documents translated into an additional language, please contact the FHCCI office.
Discrimination in a housing transaction based on race, color, gender, national origin, religion, disability, or the presence of children is unlawful. If you feel you have experienced this or know someone who has, please report it to the Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana by calling our office at 317-644-0673 or visiting www.fhcci.org.
As a trusted partner and advocate for all immigrants, IWC is dedicated to ensuring every immigrant in Indiana is thriving. For more information about our work, job/volunteer opportunities, or upcoming events, please visit our website.
