Housing study finds anti-deaf bias

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Fair Housing Partnership of Greater Pittsburgh says 28 percent of landlords it contacted in a study illegally rejected rental inquiries made by deaf people.

The group says it had deaf and hearing people call 200 landlords who advertised on Craigslist in 2009 and 2010. The same landlords would get a call from a deaf person who gave certain financial information, and then by a hearing person who gave slightly less favorable financial information.

In 56 cases, the group says landlords hung up, gave false information or otherwise illegally rejected or showed a bias against the deaf inquiry.

The group says 11 violations were so severe they filed complaints with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission.

The foundation released its findings on Thursday.