Discrimination Allegations Lodged Against 165 Real Estate Agents, Brokerages, and Landlords in Chicago Area
B engaging, jargon-free rewrite:
Historical undercover investigation by watchdog group Housing Rights Initiative (HRI) leads to largest housing discrimination lawsuit in Illinois history.
In the bustling city of Chicago, HRI has filed a massive lawsuit against 165 real estate agents, brokerages, and landlords, including big names like Coldwell Banker, Christie's International Real Estate, Keller Williams, and Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Chicago. The accusation: systematic and illegal discrimination against low-income families seeking to use Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8). HRI launched this wave of claims with 176 complaints presented to the Illinois Department of Human Rights.
As advocates for fair housing, HRI is backed by strategic partners such as Handley Farah & Anderson PLLC, Peter Romer-Friedman Law PLLC, and Disability Rights Advocates.
Back in 2022, Illinois Governor Pritzker signed HB 2775, making it illegal to discriminate against housing applicants using vouchers. This lawsuit continues that fight, working to hold discriminatory real estate companies accountable and signal a no-tolerance stance towards shutting the door on low-income families in Illinois.
Section 8 voucher holders primarily consist of families, people of color, and individuals with disabilities. Over the past year, HRI trained, equipped, and deployed a team of undercover investigators—posing as prospective tenants with Section 8 vouchers—to determine ifproperties listed by brokers and landlords adhered to the Illinois Human Rights Act, which prohibits voucher- holder discrimination. Out of completed tests, HRI found voucher holders faced discrimination about 36% of the time.
Here's a glimpse of the alleged discrimination gathered through the investigation:
- A broker from Coldwell Banker Realty, one of the biggest brokerage firms in the county, is accused of illegal discrimination against one of HRI's undercover detectives.
- A broker from Baird & Warner Realty, a Chicago-based residential real estate services company, allegedly discriminated against another HRI investigator.
See the full list of violators and evidence of the discriminatory behavior.
The goal of these lawsuits is to pressure real estate companies to stop their discriminatory housing practices, which exacerbate Chicago's homelessness and affordable housing crisis.
Aaron Carr, Founder & Executive Director of Housing Rights Initiative:
"Today, home unscrupulous landlords are inaugurated into the White House," said Aaron Carr, Founder, and Executive Director of Housing Rights Initiative. "Let this historic filing send a strong message to every real estate player: knowingly breaking the law is not a matter of ‘if,' but ‘when' you will be caught."
Joshua Murillo, Deputy Executive Director of Housing Rights Initiative:
"Discrimination against voucher holders doesn't just violate the law—it prevents families in Illinois from accessing secure, affordable housing," said Joshua Murillo, Deputy Executive Director of Housing Rights Initiative. "HRI's investigation and this lawsuit are crucial steps towards making landlords and brokers accountable for equal housing opportunities."
State Senator Javier L. Cervantes:
"Safe, stable, and affordable housing is a fundamental right. Denying Sec8 housing applicants a chance at secure housing perpetuates inequality and reinforces systemic barriers," said Senator Javier L. Cervantes (D-Chicago). "These practices are discriminatory and amplify the housing search process for community members."
State Senator Robert Peters:
"Good public safety relies on having good housing. It's unfortunate that discrimination persists in the rental search process, making it tougher for members of the community to secure their right to affordable and safe housing."-Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago)
State Senator Willie Preston:
"No Illinois resident deserves to experience homelessness in 2025. In the 1960s, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. came to Chicago to fight for fair housing, recognizing—now, as then—that housing is not a privilege but a human right. In Illinois, we will not tolerate those who disregard our laws and exploit our communities."
State Representative Will Guzzardi:
"By making discrimination against voucher holders illegal in Illinois, we worked hard to ensure everyone, regardless of how they pay their rent, has a fair chance at finding a home. If landlords continue these discriminatory practices, they must be held accountable. This investigation has uncovered egregious cases, and I hope this lawsuit sends a clear message to every landlord in our state: refused access to housing for those who use vouchers is not an option."
State Representative Yolonda Morris:
"As an advocate for equitable housing access, I am deeply concerned about the ongoing discrimination faced by low-income tenants, particularly those using housing vouchers such as Section 8," said State Representative Yolonda Morris. "It's an unfortunate reality that some stakeholders are withholding apartments from the market and misrepresenting their rental policies by falsely advertising that they accept low-income tenants."
This behavior not only undermines the housing assistance program but also promotes systemic inequality within our communities. I strongly urge all stakeholders to abide by fair housing laws and welcome prospective tenants from all income levels. Together, we can strive for a more inclusive housing landscape for all Illinois residents.
Peter Romer-Friedman, Founder of Peter Romer-Friedman Law and Former Labor Counsel to Senator Edward M. Kennedy:
"Today's comprehensive investigation and significant fair housing complaint should serve as a wake-up call for all landlords, brokers, and agents in Chicago. It's both unlawful and deplorable to refuse rentals to families who use housing vouchers. Such practices not only undermine our federal housing programs intended to help millions of families access quality, affordable housing."
Emily Roznowski, Staff Attorney at Disability Rights Advocates:
"Approximately a third of housing choice voucher recipients are people with disabilities. HRI's investigation and today's lawsuits will guarantee that disabled individuals in Illinois have equal access to quality, affordable, accessible housing."
Matthew Handley, Partner at Handley Farah & Anderson PLLC:
"Source of income discrimination in the greater Chicago area is a widespread and persistent problem, further intensifying the affordable housing crisis plaguing cities across the nation. Today's lawsuits are designed to eliminate this practice."
About Housing Rights Initiative - Housing Rights Initiative (HRI) addresses housing fraud, promotes fair housing, and connects tenants with legal support through a proactive and systematic approach. HRI educates tenants on their rights, launches investigations, and initiates class-action lawsuits against unscrupulous real estate companies, giving tenants who have been defrauded or discriminated against a platform to seek legal recourse. HRI's successful investigations into and lawsuits against Kushner Companies were featured in the Netflix documentary, Dirty Money. www.housingrightsUS.org
Peter Romer-Friedman Law PLLC is a public interest law firm advocating socio-economic justice through class actions and individual cases involving civil rights, employment, constitutional rights, consumer protection, and tech abuses. Its lawyers have secured over $1.4 billion in relief for individuals in class and individual actions, achieved groundbreaking legal precedents, and instituted impactful reforms from corporations and governments since the firm's inception.
About Disability Rights Advocates - Disability Rights Advocates (DRA) is a nationwide nonprofit legal center dedicated to advancing equal rights and opportunities for people with disabilities through complex and high-impact cases. DRA's mission is to change systems that deny equal opportunities for people with disabilities, thereby enabling them to enjoy full community participation. Thanks to DRA's precedent-setting work, people with disabilities across the country have improved their access to housing, education, healthcare, employment, transportation, and voting. For more information, visit www.dralegal.org.
Handley Farah & Anderson is a law firm committed to improving the world by fighting for employees deprived of wages, consumers misinformed about products, tenants denied access to housing, farmers mistreated by processors, parents denied adequate parental leave, investors defrauded, small businesses damaged by antitrust violations, women and communities of color subjected to discrimination, and whistleblowers who expose fraud.
- In this lawsuit, several real estate companies are accused of violating civil rights laws by systematically discriminating against low-income families, including individuals with disabilities, who use Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8), in clear contravention of Illinois Human Rights Act.
- The class action lawsuits filed by Housing Rights Initiative against multiple real estate companies aim to send a strong message about antitrust and consumer protection, pushing for an end to discriminatory housing practices in Chicago that exacerbate the city's homelessness and affordable housing crisis and violate equal housing opportunities for all, as advocated by state senators and representatives, community leaders, and pro-fair housing organizations.
