Discrimination in Massachusetts
Discrimination has long been illegal, but many housing deeds in the state still contain racist restrictions. Meanwhile, studies show that landlords and real estate agents frequently show bias against potential tenants, and advocates say enforcement of laws is far too limited. The Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination sometimes takes decades to resolve cases. Below are stories from the WBUR newsroom about these issues.
As housing bias in Mass. persists, advocates want tougher penalties for landlords, agents
Massachusetts nonprofits have repeatedly used testing to uncover systematic bias in housing. But advocates say there is too little testing and punishment in the state.
Mass. boosts anti-discrimination funding 78% to help clear backlog of complaints
The Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination will receive an additional $3.3 million in funding in this year's state budget, following a WBUR report detailing wait times of well over a decade.
Mass. politicians call for end to long waits at anti-discrimination agency
Several of the state's top elected officials have vowed to find ways to address the growing backlog of complaints filed with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination following a report by...
State commission takes years to resolve discrimination cases. One took 17. Another took 15
Many people have been waiting years for the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination to make rulings. And the backlog of old cases has surged during the pandemic.
Racist covenants still stain property records. Mass. may try to have them removed
There’s no way to identify all the racist restrictions buried in old deeds. Property records in Massachusetts date back to the 1620s. And most the vast majority are handwritten and...
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