Steering
A discriminatory practice by which housing providers direct prospective tenants or buyers toward or away from certain neighborhoods, buildings, or units based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, or familial status. Prohibited under 24 CFR § 100.70(c).
Also known as: racial steering, discriminatory channeling
Definition
Steering is a form of housing discrimination in which a housing provider (landlord, real estate agent, or their agent) guides prospective tenants or purchasers toward or away from particular dwellings, neighborhoods, or buildings based on a protected characteristic.
Regulatory Prohibition
24 CFR § 100.70(c) provides that it is unlawful to engage in, or cause others to engage in, the following steering practices:
- Discouraging a person from inspecting, purchasing, or renting housing because of the person's race or other protected class
- Failing to provide information about housing available for inspection, purchase, or rental because of a protected characteristic
- Channeling persons into neighborhoods based on protected class
Historical Context
Steering was widespread practice prior to the Fair Housing Act of 1968. Real estate agents would show white buyers only white neighborhoods and Black buyers only certain areas — often reinforcing racially segregated settlement patterns established through redlining and racially restrictive covenants.
Modern Forms
Contemporary steering may be subtle:
- Describing certain neighborhoods differently to applicants of different races
- Affirmatively marketing certain units to tenants of particular national origins
- Showing different inventory based on protected class characteristics
Relationship to Redlining
Steering and redlining are related but distinct practices. Redlining involves systematic denial of services to geographic areas based on racial composition; steering involves active direction of individual customers based on their protected characteristics.
Sources
- 24 CFR § 100.70, eCFR —
ecfr - 42 U.S.C. § 3604, Cornell LII —
cornell-lii - HUD.gov: Fair Housing —
hud-gov
Frequently asked questions
Regulatory Prohibition
CFR § 100.70(c) provides that it is unlawful to engage in, or cause others to engage in, the following steering practices: Discouraging a person from inspecting, purchasing, or renting housing because of the person's race or other protected class Failing to provide information about housing available for inspection, purchase, or rental because of a protected characteristic Channeling persons into neighborhoods based on protected class
What is the policy rationale for Steering?
Steering was widespread practice prior to the Fair Housing Act of 1968. Real estate agents would show white buyers only white neighborhoods and Black buyers only certain areas — often reinforcing racially segregated settlement patterns established through redlining and racially restrictive covenants.
Modern Forms
Contemporary steering may be subtle: Describing certain neighborhoods differently to applicants of different races Affirmatively marketing certain units to tenants of particular national origins Showing different inventory based on protected class characteristics
Relationship to Redlining
Steering and redlining are related but distinct practices. Redlining involves systematic denial of services to geographic areas based on racial composition; steering involves active direction of individual customers based on their protected characteristics.
Sources
CFR § 100.70, eCFR — ecfr U.S.C. § 3604, Cornell LII — cornell-lii HUD.gov: Fair Housing — hud-gov