Fair Housing Tester

What is a Tester?

As a tester with the Fair Housing Center of West Michigan, you play the role of a home seeker - a person who is looking for a housing unit in which to live. After participating in apartment showings, open houses, or other remote opportunities, Testers document their experience. The Fair Housing Center compares experiences between Testers of common and different characteristics to assess the fairness of transactions in the local housing market. Differences in the treatment of testers often form the bases for successful resolution of a housing discrimination complaint. Testers must be at least 18 years old, objective, careful observers, accurate reporters, and truthful and credible witnesses.

Why Testing?

The testing process has been consistently supported by federal courts as a legitimate and necessary method to identify practices of unlawful housing discrimination. In West Michigan, successful complaints filed by claimants have been based upon evidence obtained by Fair Housing Center testers. Without a vast and diverse pool of volunteer testers, the Fair Housing Center would be drastically limited in our ability to conduct research and investigate claims of illegal discrimination.

How Do I Become a Tester?

If you are interested in taking on the challenging and rewarding role of a tester, email us to learn about upcoming tester training dates. To register for a tester training via phone, or for more information about testing, contact Jordan Orr at Jorr@fhcwm.org or (616) 330-2090.