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A property manager in Corvallis, Oregon screens rental applicants using a policy that automatically disqualifies anyone with any criminal conviction, regardless of the nature or age of the offense. A fair housing complaint is filed by an applicant who was denied. Under federal fair housing guidance, which protected class is most likely implicated by this blanket criminal history policy?

Correct Answer

A) Race, because a blanket criminal history exclusion may have a disproportionate disparate impact on racial minorities

HUD issued guidance in 2016 clarifying that blanket policies excluding all persons with criminal records from housing may violate the Fair Housing Act under a disparate impact theory based on race. Because arrest and incarceration rates are statistically disproportionate among racial minorities in the United States, a blanket criminal history exclusion — without individualized assessment of the nature, severity, and age of the offense — may have a discriminatory disparate impact on racial minorities. Landlords should conduct individualized assessments rather than applying blanket exclusions.

Answer Options
A
Race, because a blanket criminal history exclusion may have a disproportionate disparate impact on racial minorities
B
Disability, because many individuals with criminal records have mental health conditions
C
Familial status, because many individuals with criminal records are single parents
D
Sex, because criminal conviction rates are statistically higher among men than women

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Related Topics & Key Terms

Key Terms:

racedisparate_impactcriminal_historyfederal_fair_housingrental_screening

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