Sexual Harassment of Low-Income Women by Landlords

Rigel C. Oliveri
University of Missouri School of Law

This article examines the results of a qualitative study of low-income women who have been sexually harassed by their landlords. The study involved detailed interviews of 100 low-income women who were clients of the Columbia (Missouri) Housing Authority. These interviews revealed a picture of the tenants who experienced sexual harassment in housing and how they responded; the characteristics of landlords who engage in such harassment; the forms the harassment is likely to take; and the effects the harassment had on the tenants’ housing situation. The results suggest the need for more targeted outreach to low-income women who may be victimized and more oversight of landlords who may operate with little accountability. More research is needed to determine how prevalent this problem is and what risk factors contribute to it.