Portland Audit Testing

Federal, state and local fair housing laws make it illegal to discriminate in the rental, sale, , appraisal or financing, insuring, building and construction or the land use regulations, zoning and advertising of housing.

Federal law prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, or national origin (42 U.S.C. §3604). Oregon law also protects marital status, source of income, sexual orientation, and domestic violence survivors. Washington law covers martial status, sexual orientation, and domestic violence survivors, and honorably discharged veterans / military status. In addition protected classes have been added in some local jurisdictions.

Audit Testing is oOne of the Most Effective Tools in Fair Housing Law Enforcement

For more than 20 years, the Fair Housing Council (FHCO) has conducted complaint-based testing as a key element of our mission to end housing discrimination. Over the past two years, we have also begun to offer audit testing to jurisdictions around the state in order to provide a “snapshot” of different treatment given to protected classes in a given housing market.

In order to ensure the quality of our testing, FHCO recently obtained an independent evaluation of our 2010 audit for the City of Portland. The evaluation found that our audit testing methodology and process are appropriate, and recommended improvements to further enhance our work.

Below are materials related to the evaluation and FHCO’s audit testing services.

FHCO Materials:

Audit Testing Fact Sheet

Independent Report

Memo from Executive Director to FHCO Board of Directors

News Coverage:

With Drama Quieting Over Landlord Test Results, City Resumes Talks With Housing Agency
Portland Mercury, 12/9/11

Outside Report Defends Test Results by Fair Housing Council of Oregon
Oregonian, 12/10/11

Housing Group Issues a Critique of Its Flawed Discrimination Investigation
Willamette Week, 12/12/11

	return to top of page

	"Thank You" The FHCO would like to thank our partners and members for their support. Their contributions and grants have helped to make the resources on this site possible. Please join them in supporting our efforts!

©1999-2012. FHCO. All rights reserved.