Law
Non-Discrimination in Social Housing Allocation
Quick fact
International human rights law requires that social housing allocation not only avoid explicit discrimination but also prevent indirect discrimination: even a rule that looks neutral (like a minimum income test) can be unlawful if it disproportionately excludes a protected group without a compelling justification.
Why this is interesting
Imagine two families with identical needs apply for the same scarce subsidized apartment—one is accepted, the other rejected, simply because of a rule that doesn't consider their individual circumstances. How can the law tell the difference between a fair housing queue and unlawful discrimination?