Sonoma County Section 8 Renters Face Widespread Discrimination: Study

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SONOMA COUNTY, CA — Section 8 renters in three North Bay counties including Sonoma face widespread discrimination, a newly released report alleges.

Tests conducted in Sonoma County revealed the highest incidence of race discrimination (63 percent) and source of income discrimination (88 percent), with 92 percent revealing at least some evidence of either or both, according to the Fair Housing Advocates of Northern California (FHANC) study’s findings.

California residents receiving housing choice vouchers (also known as “Section 8”) are protected from discrimination under amendments to the California Fair Employment and Housing Act made in January 2020.
The amendments made it illegal to discriminate against or exclude tenants and applicants because they have a Section 8 voucher.

Housing providers in Solano County evidenced the least discrimination, with 32 percent of tests revealing evidence of race discrimination and 44 percent revealing evidence of source of income discrimination.
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