Statewide Iowa — The Sioux City Human Rights Commission is working to educate tenants about their housing rights by hosting a fair housing workshop to help renters advocate for themselves.
Commission director Karen Mackey says it’s especially important now to understand your rights as the competitive housing market is leading Iowa tenants to accept worse treatment.
The Iowa Finance Authority reports that more than 40 percent of renters spend a third of their income on housing. Mackey says that leaves many Iowans vulnerable to eviction and discrimination. Jessica Ryan, an investigator with the commission, says a shortage of affordable housing options often leads tenants to desperate decisions.
The workshop also provided resources for those facing eviction. Iowa Legal Aid predicts that 2022 will bring a record number of evictions, according to a report by Axios Des Moines. That’s partly due to a loss of COVID-19 emergency aid.
