August 2020 Coach's Quiz

We’ve given you six rules on how to fulfill your obligation to prevent race discrimination. Now let’s look at how the rules might apply in the real world. Take the Coach’s Quiz to see what you’ve learned.

INSTRUCTIONS: Each of the following questions has only one correct answer. On a separate piece of paper, write down the number of each question, followed by the answer you think is correct—for example, (1) b, (2) a, and so on. NOTE: The correct answers (with explanations) follow the quiz online and are published in a separate PDF, along with the lesson PDF, in the Archives. Good luck!

QUESTION #1

It’s illegal to deny housing based on a prospect’s race or color, but you can’t get into fair housing trouble if you merely bend the truth when asked about available units. True or false?

a.            True.

b.            False.

QUESTION #2

An African-American couple visits the leasing office asking about available one-bedroom units. There are two units available, but the leasing agent shows the couple only one. She doesn’t mention the other unit because she has overheard the resident in the neighboring unit using racial slurs. Since she’s trying to protect the couple from race discrimination, her actions would not violate fair housing law. True or false?

a.            True.

b.            False.

QUESTION #3

You could face a fair housing complaint if you conduct criminal background checks for Black or Hispanic applicants but skip them for white applicants. True or false?

a.            True.

b.            False.

QUESTION #4

A resident has repeatedly complained that his upstairs neighbor has been harassing him because of his race. If you ignore his complaints, the resident could sue your community for discrimination or harassment under fair housing law. True or false?

a.            True.

b.            False.

COACH’S ANSWERS & EXPLANATIONS

QUESTION #1

Correct answer: b

Reason: Rules #1 & #4 apply here:

                Rule #1: Keep Race Out of the Leasing Process

                Rule #4: Focus on Employee Training and Supervision

Don’t allow race to play any part in decisions about who may live in your community. Under the FHA, it’s unlawful to refuse to rent or make housing unavailable to anyone based on his race—or the race of anyone associated with him. It’s also unlawful to deny housing based on an applicant’s race or color by providing different and false information about terms, conditions, and availability of rental properties.

QUESTION #2

Correct answer: b

Reason: Rules #1, #3 & #4 apply here:

                Rule #1: Keep Race Out of the Leasing Process

                Rule #3: Beware of Unlawful Steering

                Rule #4: Focus on Employee Training and Supervision

Even if well-meaning, the leasing agent could be accused of unlawful steering—that is, limiting the couple’s housing choices by directing them away from a particular unit because of their race.

QUESTION #3

Correct answer: a

Reason: Rules #2 & #5 apply here:

                Rule #2: Apply Uniform Qualification Standards, Regardless of Race

                Rule #5: Review Your Criminal Background Policy

Whatever your policy on criminal background checks, be sure that you apply it consistently—without regard to race, color, national origin, or other protected characteristics. Applying it only to applicants who are members of racial or ethnic minorities, but not to white applicants, could trigger a fair housing complaint.

QUESTION #4

Correct answer: a

Reason: Rule #6 applies here:

                Rule #6: Take a Hard Line Against Racial Harassment

Your community could face a fair housing complaint from the resident for failure to take prompt action to correct and end racial harassment by the neighbor if you knew or should have known of the discriminatory conduct and had the power to correct it.