A class-action lawsuit was filed on Tuesday against Mac Properties, a large apartment management company in Hyde Park, Chicago. Four housing choice voucher holders and the nonprofit HOPE Fair Housing Center allege systemic discrimination against voucher holders seeking to rent in Mac Properties’ newer, higher-end apartments. The complaint, filed in federal court, states that Mac Properties steers voucher holders towards older buildings lacking the amenities of their preferred properties.
Plaintiffs report being denied applications or tours after leasing agents learned they used vouchers. Others claim agents falsely reported unavailability of desired units, only for those units to be offered to non-voucher holders shortly after. Mac Properties owns an estimated 100 buildings in Hyde Park, totaling over 5,000 units, and also operates in Kansas City and St. Louis. The lawsuit estimates the class could include over 40 voucher holders experiencing income discrimination since December 17, 2021. Tory Tilton, a lawyer representing the class, highlighted Mac Properties’ significant control over the Hyde Park rental market and expressed concern over repeated complaints from voucher holders and tenants.
Mac Properties denied any wrongdoing, stating the allegations are baseless and misrepresent the facts. They emphasized their commitment to equal housing access and adherence to all relevant laws, citing hundreds of renters successfully using vouchers in their 5,000 Hyde Park units. HOPE Fair Housing Center, a plaintiff in the suit, has been investigating Mac Properties for years, prompted by numerous complaints. Their investigation, including using trained testers, confirmed the voucher holders’ experiences.
The four plaintiffs, all Black women using housing vouchers, described similar experiences of being denied applications, tours, or being misled about apartment availability. Sheliah Ayanwale and RySheena Moore recounted specific instances where they were denied access to desirable properties after mentioning their vouchers, while non-voucher holders were shown the same units. Moore, a U.S. Army veteran, expressed her disappointment and frustration at the apparent discrimination.
HOPE’s investigation involved trained testers who posed as applicants, some mentioning vouchers and others not. Testers who mentioned vouchers received different information and worse treatment than those who didn’t, demonstrating a systemic issue. Mac Properties’ concentration of apartments in Hyde Park, a Chicago Housing Authority “mobility area,” further underscores the impact of this alleged discrimination on vulnerable residents. Chicago has had laws protecting against income discrimination since 1990, and the lawsuit alleges violations of the Illinois Human Rights Act, the federal Fair Housing Act, and the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.
While Mac Properties claims hundreds have successfully rented using vouchers, the plaintiffs and their legal team argue that steering voucher holders to less desirable properties constitutes discrimination. The plaintiffs allege that the units they were offered were often less desirable and in poor condition. The lawsuit seeks to stop Mac Properties’ alleged discriminatory practices and secure compensation for both the plaintiffs and HOPE’s investigation costs. The experience has left Moore, and others, anxious about finding housing in Hyde Park, highlighting the ongoing need for fair and equitable housing access for all.