BagHead Central
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bagheads\'bag -, 'hedz\n (1998): are anonymous members of our community who help monitor housing discrimination through testing. Also known as testers or housing discrimination investigators.
Source: in an effort to maintain anonymity, SSFHC testers meet the press wearing bags on their heads.
What is Testing?
- Testing refers to the process of monitoring the housing market to determine the nature and extent of discriminatory treatment accorded to homeseekers. Two individuals, alike in every aspect except the variable being tested, are sent to the same rental or sales office. These testers play the role of homeseekers - persons looking for a housing unit in which to live. Testers make objective reports of what transpires. Testers must be objective, careful observers, accurate reporters, and truthful witnesses. Any differences in treatment may form the basis for the successful resolution of a housing discrimination complaint.
The testing process has been consistently supported by federal courts as a legitimate, necessary method to identify practices of unlawful housing discrimination. Testing provides compelling, objective evidence which verifies a homeseeker's experience with discrimination. Both the sworn oral testimony and the actual written reports of testers are routinely accepted by courts as evidence of discriminatory conduct by a defendant.
$$Testers are paid a small fee for completed test reports$$
All testers are required to complete a tester training course. The four hour tester training provides an overview of fair housing law, reviews the nature and structure of housing discrimination tests, and teaches prospective testers to report their experiences in an objective, professional manner.
- Silver State Fair Housing Council invites you to
- participate in Housing Discrimination training
For more information on testing and tester training, call Silver State Fair Housing Council at (775) 324-0990
