Christian Dalbert, a real estate broker, went from door-to-door in a Cleveland neighborhood and knocked on doors to explain that immigrants were moving into the area and that they "always bring bedbugs with them, and you cannot get rid of bedbugs unless you get rid of all your furniture and clothes." Most of those residing in the neighborhood listed their homes with Dalbert and left the area. The area became populated with immigrants from various countries. What if the area was diverse prior to Christian's efforts and remained diverse after the homes were sold?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, or disability. Christian Dalbert's actions, by suggesting that immigrants (a group defined by national origin) bring bedbugs and implicitly encouraging residents to sell their homes, could be seen as an attempt to change the demographic composition of the neighborhood. This could be interpreted as an attempt to exclude or discourage people from living in the area based on their national origin, which is relevant under the Fair Housing Act, regardless of whether the area remained diverse.

Christian Dalbert, a Real Estate Broker, Went from Door-To-Door in a Cleveland