PHRC Report Details Discrimination in Housing

Nearly 14% of the discrimination complaints filed with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission were housing-related, according to the PHRC 2023 Annual Report. The top three types of housing-related complaints were disability, retaliation and race.

Of the more than 90 disability-related complaints in housing, nearly a third were related to mental health issues. In addition, there were 12 complaints filed regarding support animals.

The PHRC continues to see disability-related complaints, and many are specifically related to support animals, according to Caroline Eister, PHRC director of fair housing and commercial property.

“I often hear from housing providers that there’s still some confusion with service and support animals,” Brittany Mellinger, PHRC educational outreach coordinator, said. “It’s apparent what service animals do, but people may not see what support a support animal provides. Support animals are equally protected because they support the mental health and well-being of a person.”

Eister noted that often housing providers see a service or support animal solely as a pet, when in fact, the animal provides a variety of support for the person with a disability.

“It’s important for housing providers to engage in an interactive process with a client,” Eister said. “They can’t confine people with service or support animals to only one building or charge a fee for having an animal. Housing providers can ask for proof of the need for support from a medical professional, but they can’t ask for the medical diagnosis.”

Mellinger noted that there are online vendors charging for a validation of a support animal, but these sites are often taking advantage of people and it’s not necessary to pay for a certificate for a service or support animal.

The PHRC report showed that retaliation complaints in housing were primarily opposing an unlawful activity, along with filing a PHRC complaint.

An example would be a landlord not renewing a lease after granting a reasonable accommodation for an assistance animal or refusing to make repairs if a tenant turns down a sexual proposition.

In addition, 41 complaints related to discrimination based on race were filed in housing, and discrimination based on sex totaled 18 in housing, according to the report. Females and pregnant females filed the majority of the complaints.

When the PHRC receives a complaint, it’s sent to the regional office where the complaint occurred. The PHRC has a highly structured process to review whether a complaint is valid. A neutral investigator collects information, documents and statements from everyone involved.

“They look at the facts of the case, not making any assumptions,” Eister added. “The parties are given an option to mediate before a case is taken further.”

The PHRC offers free trainings to organizations, providing customized training to address issues like civil rights, preventing discrimination, as well as fair housing rights. The PHRC also hosts annual conferences and virtual trainings. And the PHRC Executive Director Chad Dion Lassiter continues the statewide Beloved Community listening tour in Pottsville tomorrow, July 24.

Volunteers are also needed on the PHRC’s Advisory Councils, which are groups of 8 to 24 nonpartisan and nonpolitical volunteers who meet regularly to serve as advisors to the PHRC.

Individuals who believe they have experienced illegal discrimination can file a complaint or report a bias incident online.