Fighting Housing Discrimination: Compass Joins Forces with the Housing Rights Initiative

Finding safe and stable housing is already a challenge for families experiencing homelessness, but for families using rental subsidies, discrimination by landlords can add yet another obstacle. Too often, landlords simply refuse to rent to someone with a subsidy, even though that’s illegal in California.

That’s why Compass Family Services has been working with the Housing Rights Initiative (HRI), a nonprofit that investigates housing discrimination and pushes for fair treatment of renters.

How We Started Working Together

Families came to Compass with troubling stories of being denied housing based on their subsidy. So in late 2024, we connected with HRI through our friends at Legal Link.

HRI had concerning news from their own research: 44% of properties in San Francisco and 58% in Oakland demonstrated explicit discrimination against voucher holders. And these numbers don’t even include cases of implicit bias, which HRI estimates could increase the rate of discrimination by an additional 20–30%.

We started sharing information about the cities and neighborhoods where our housing team has searched for homes for families with vouchers. HRI then began “testing” landlords in those areas to see if they would rent to someone using a housing subsidy.

Turning Results into Change

When HRI finds clear discrimination, they work with the California Civil Rights Department to take action. If a case goes to mediation, landlords may be required to reform their practices and give advance notice to voucher holders that apartments will soon become available.

One major outcome of this work: HRI has reached settlements with dozens of real estate companies across California. In the Bay area, these settlements often include a provision that Compass will be given a heads up on vacant units, so Compass families know when to apply.

Making an Immediate Difference

Thanks to this partnership, Compass housing locators now receive regular updates from HRI about landlords and property managers who are open to working with families who use housing subsidies. This information has become a critical tool in our housing search process, helping us connect families to homes more quickly and efficiently.

The work isn’t over. HRI is still investigating cases in the Bay Area and beyond. And Compass will keep sending them leads on properties we suspect might be discriminating against our clients.

Every family deserves a fair chance at housing. By teaming up with groups like HRI, we’re breaking down barriers and opening doors for families in our programs.