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 [email protected]