Fair Housing Tester

South Suburban Housing Center (SSHC) conducts fair housing testing throughout the year, which requires volunteer (tester) participation. As a tester, you play the role of a home seeker to observe and document the ordinary business practices of housing providers, lenders, insurance companies, and others. As a tester, you may be asked to pose as a person who is interested in renting an apartment, buying a home, applying for financing to purchase housing, inquiring about property insurance for a home, or using other types of housing services. Testers must be at least 18 years old, objective, careful observers, accurate reporters, as well as truthful and credible witnesses. Testers are paid a small stipend per test.

How: Volunteers contact housing providers and write a narrative of their experience. Due to the pandemic, testing is being conducted virtually.

When:Mostly between 9am-5pm (M-F).

Where: Northwest Indiana (Lake and Porter) and South Suburbs of Chicago

Get Involved: Interested testers will receive free virtual training. Our testing program is currently operating virtually due to the pandemic to ensure tester safety. If you are interested in fighting discrimination as a fair housing tester or if you have friends or family members who you think would like to become fair housing testers, please contact SSHC's Testing Coordinator, Emily Newsom, by emailing emily@southsuburban.net