Religious Discrimination in Housing Remains Largely Hidden in NH
Religious Discrimination in Housing Remains Largely Hidden in NH
Since the passage of the Fair Housing Act in 1968, it has been illegal to discriminate against someone who is applying to rent or buy a home based on their religion. This kind of discrimination can take on many forms, such as refusing to rent or sell or offering different terms or conditions to people based on their religion.
Reports of discrimination
About 59% of New Hampshire adults identify as Christian, 2% as Jewish, and less than 1% as Muslim, Buddhist, or Hindu. In 2020, NHLA looked at barriers to accessing housing in the Granite State to get a better understanding of the obstacles people face based on various factors, including religion.
This report found that over the past thirty years, there have only been a handful of reports of housing discrimination based on religion in the state. Religious discrimination in the New Hampshire housing market has been hard to identify and prove, largely due to a lack of data. However, this does not mean religious discrimination in housing is non-existent in New Hampshire, and there have been documented incidents of other types of religious bigotry over the last few years, such as anti-Semitic graffiti and assault of a Muslim woman in Manchester.
It is likely that incidents of religious discrimination in housing are happening, but they are underreported. This could be due to the victim being unaware of how to report discrimination or fear of retaliation or of not being taken seriously. Some people may not have the emotional energy to do so or may not be aware that they were discriminated against. These incidents remind us that New Hampshire is not immune to religious bigotry and that avenues must remain in place for people to report discrimination when it arises.
Incidents of religious discrimination in housing can be reported to the New Hampshire Commission for Human Rights, which is charged with enforcing the state Law Against Discrimination, or to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which enforces the federal Fair Housing Act.
NHLA's Fair Housing Project investigates claims of housing discrimination and represents victims of discrimination in seeking redress. The Fair Housing Project receives the majority of housing discrimination complaints in the state and is continuously working to raise awareness of laws protecting individuals from housing discrimination and the remedies available to victims.
Interviews with members of New Hampshire’s Muslim communities
NHLA also interviewed members of New Hampshire’s Muslim communities as part of the 2020 report cited above. Someone’s personal experience with discrimination often speaks much louder than statistics and provides the wider community with essential insights. Consultant Christine Wellington conducted interviews with five New Hampshire residents of Muslim heritage from diverse backgrounds and countries who held leadership positions within their communities to get an understanding not only of their personal experiences with discrimination and bigotry but also of the incidents experienced by others that were reported to them. A majority of people who were interviewed came to the United States as refugees.
These interviews reveal that bias manifests in various ways, often openly. Many participants felt that religion-based bigotry has become more prominent in recent years, both locally and nationally, due to shifts in the national political environment. Unfortunately, this has created an environment in which many Muslim people may feel unsafe and unwelcome in their own neighborhoods. Participants discussed experiences of anti-Muslim bias in employment, community life, and housing, including poor housing conditions, unresponsive landlords, and unsafe neighborhoods. One person described the process of searching for an apartment “heartbreaking.”
Have you been discriminated against due to your religion?
Discrimination can sometimes be hard to recognize and prove. Instances of religious discrimination in housing can take various forms, and here are examples of possible discrimination based on religion described by the participants:
An apartment was suddenly unavailable upon the applicant’s arrival in person.
Landlord stressed the income requirement in order to qualify for the apartment after learning the applicant’s name.
Landlord blatantly ignored Muslim applicants and only paid attention to White applicants.
Landlord said they would mail the apartment application to a Muslim individual but never asked for their mailing address.
Seller rejected an offer above the selling price and accepted a lower offer from a non-Muslim family.
Do you think you might be a victim of housing discrimination? Contact NHLA's Fair Housing Project. We may be able to represent you.