The Human Cost of Housing Discrimination: Anthony’s Story and the Path Forward

Anthony is in disbelief. He doesn't understand what has changed since speaking to the landlord on the phone that morning. He’s been living in a transition house for the last nine months, but Anthony only has one week until he has to move out. Then he will be homeless, and he expects his parole officer will certainly violate him.

“You told me we could sign the lease today,” Anthony tells the homeowner. “We brought the first and last month’s rent for you. ”

The 61-year-old from Los Angeles pulls a cashier's check from his pocket and offers it to the landlord. She scowls, dismisses them, and walks away. Defeated and confused, the hopeful roommates return to their car.

The Fair Housing Act protects people from discrimination when renting or buying a home, getting a mortgage, or seeking housing assistance. Yet housing inequities still exist in the US in many forms – especially against those with a criminal background.

People who are justice-impacted are the only class of people who are unprotected by fair housing laws in this country – 19 million Americans have a felony conviction on their record, making it very difficult to sign a lease or buy a house for so many people.

“I was finally able to find a place to live because of the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) Los Angeles and the Homecoming Project, an organization that finds rooms for rent for returning from incarceration,” Anthony says. “But I’ve been getting denied housing since I was a kid. If I'm not being judged for my tattoos, it’s my background.”

Anthony recalls a time when he was 18 and renting an apartment with his cousin before the landlord evicted them without cause. “My landlord loved us but said she had no choice but to kick us out,” says Anthony. “The local sheriff and a gang investigator had confronted her about 'renting to gangbanger felons’ and told her to evict us because we had a criminal record.”

While Anthony and his cousin did have prior contact with law enforcement, at the time of their eviction, they were productive members of their community and experienced housing discrimination first-hand.

Anthony is not affiliated with a gang, and despite the more recent housing challenges, he has continued to thrive since returning to society last year. He was chosen to be a member of CEO’s Emerging Leadership Program, a paid internship with mentorship and professional development.

His hard work and the value he offers led him to be hired full-time as a Retention Specialist. He rents a room through the Homecoming Project with a friend, and lives every day with purpose.

“The Emerging Leaders Program provided me with the skills and experience to become a CEO employee. I love my apartment, and life is good,” Anthony says. “This is my future and it looks amazing.”

Visit our blog page to read more success stories, or donate to support economic mobility opportunities for justice-impacted individuals.