A
housing rights nonprofit, Housing Rights Initiative, filed 176 complaints with the Illinois Department of Human Rights on Monday, accusing 165 Chicago-area real estate agents, brokerages, and landlords of discriminating against low-income renters with Housing Choice Vouchers. The allegations stem from a year-long undercover investigation, where investigators posed as prospective tenants to test compliance with the Illinois Human Rights Act.

    The complaints name several top brokerages, including Coldwell Banker Real Estate, Christie's International Real Estate, Keller Williams Realty, and Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, among others. According to the nonprofit, voucher holders were discriminated against about 36% of the time during the investigation.

    This case is the largest housing discrimination case in Illinois history, with properties located across Chicago and surrounding suburbs being named as evidence. The Housing Rights Initiative found that some real estate agents told investigators that their properties did not accept Section 8 vouchers, a violation of state law since January 2023.

    Representatives from several brokerages did not immediately respond to requests for comment. This is not the first time real estate players have faced allegations of discriminating against voucher holders, with a federal lawsuit filed last month against Mac Properties alleging similar practices.

    State lawmakers are calling for more diligence in enforcing the 2022 law that prohibits housing discrimination based on income source. They point out that families, people of color, and people with disabilities make up a disproportionate amount of Housing Choice Voucher holders, highlighting systemic inequality within communities.