JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – It’s something we don’t hear a lot about when you try to get into housing here in Jacksonville: Have you been discriminated against? Are you discriminated against because of the amount of money you make because of your race because of your sexuality?
These are things that Jacksonville Area Legal Aid is trying to change.
Affordable housing is a key issue in Jacksonville. There is lots of competition for homes and some apartments. But is it fair competition?
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News4JAX has been out talking to people looking for housing and asking if they feel their race or other factors are keeping them out of areas, they want to live in. One woman who didn’t want to be identified had plenty to say.
“So it is, it depends on where you go in if you’re in, if you try to rent a house and maybe a Mandarin, they won’t rent to people. And if you do, you can’t afford it,” she said.
Under Florida law, denying rent because of income or even if you get government assistance is allowed, but you can’t be denied a place because of disability, race, sex, color national origin, religion, family status or sexual orientation.
And that is where Jacksonville Legal Aid comes in. The nonprofit law firm is looking for people to be “fair housing testers.”
“We have testers who do go into, you know, various apartment complexes or sales agencies or insurance agencies to see what is going on in those practices. If it happens, it certainly happens, and that’s what we’re trying to figure out and, and sort out the evidence,” said Suzanne Garrow, an attorney with Jacksonville Legal Aid.
Garrow said her organization has been doing this in the past and when they see problems they address it. The firm is now hiring people to help them find out more. The pay and jobs vary but she says the work is important.
The firm said it needs people who are going to be objective and not make assumptions, be observant, reliable, prompt, flexible, and can maintain confidentiality.
There are some requirements: you must be 18, have transportation, attend training and have strong writing skills.
It may not be an everyday job, but it can make a difference, Garrow said, and help Jacksonville become a better place to live.