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had gone out of business before the survey commenced. A questionnaire was developed for use during the interviews with the principal broker of each firm selected for the survey (Appendix VI). While the questionnaire was designed to specifically reflect the provisions of the plan, some questions relate to aspects of affirmative action which are broader than those included in the plan. For example, several questions focus on the collection of racial data. Here the concern is with establishing a system for collecting and analyzing racial data for statistical and informational purposes. Such data is needed to provide a foundation for uncovering and remedying patterns and practices of discrimination.

Conceptually, the affirmative action provisions of the plan cover the fair housing regulations and guidelines promulgated by HUD: specifically, the Affirmative Fair Housing Marketing Regulations, the Fair Housing Poster Regulations, and the Advertising Guidelines for Fair Housing. In addition, some provisions of the plan are aimed at increasing equal employment opportunities. Other provisions are concerned with instituting educational and informational programs to ensure correction of illegal and disreputable real estate practices and to create within the real estate industry a greater awareness of problems in housing.

The Affirmative Fair Housing Marketing Regulations require applicants who participate in FHA subsidized or unsubsidized development or rehabilitation programs to pursue certain marketing policy requirements in soliciting buyers and tenants.

The Fair Housing Poster Regulations require all those subject to the provisions of Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 to prominently display and maintain the HUD-approved poster in all places of business.

The Advertising Guidelines for Fair Housing prohibit the use of words, phrases, and visual aids which have discriminatory effect, and specify how human models and the Equal Housing Opportunity logotype, statement or slogan should be used in advertisements for sale or rental of housing.

SURVEY FINDINGS

For the purpose of this report the findings of the survey are organized according to key subject areas--e.g., employment, advertising, and Codes of Fair Housing Practices.

* U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

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Employment/Salespersons Profile

* A total of 179 salespersons were employed by the 12 firms cooperating in the survey. Only seven of this total are Black, six of which are employed by one firm (Table 1).

* Two nonBlack minorities were employed in separate offices among the 12 firms surveyed.

* Of the 12 firms surveyed, eight responded that no specific effort had been made to hire Blacks or other minorities.

Advertising

* All of the 12 firms cooperating in the survey advertise sales and rentals in the two major daily newspapers (Post and Star) of the metropolitan Washington area.

* None of the 12 firms surveyed advertise sales and rentals in minority oriented media.

* None of the 12 has ever conducted a public service advertising campaign to promote a policy of open housing.

* None use the Equal Housing Opportunity Slogan in classified ads.

* Only three of the 12 firms surveyed use the Equal Housing Opportunity Logotype in display ads. (Note: Not all of the 12 firms use display ads.)

* Only one of the firms uses the Equal Housing Opportunity Logotype on all signs posted on listed real estate property.

Codes of Fair Housing Practices

The Prince George's County Board of Realtors adopted (with minor revisions) the Code of Equal Housing Opportunities Practices drafted and proposed by the Housing Opportunities Council of Metropolitan Washington. They also adopted the Code for Equal Opportunity promulgated by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) in cooperation with HUD.

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The HOC code is stronger and has more detailed provisions than the HUD-NAR Code.. In the plan the board agreed to make these codes available to all members, their employees, and persons applying for board membership. All members were to post the codes in prominent locations in all places of business. During the survey, the following observations regarding the code were made by monitors:

Code of Equal Housing Opportunities Practices

(Adopted in cooperation with HOC)

* Code not posted in three of the 12 firms surveyed.

* Code not posted in a conspicuous location at five of the 12 firms surveyed.

Some office personnel said that they had never heard of the code and were not certain if it was in the office.

Code for Equal Opportunity

(Adopted by the Board in cooperation with NAR and HUD)

* Code posted in all firms surveyed.

* Code not posted in a conspicuous location at two of the 12 firms surveyed.

CONCLUSIONS

Assessment of Data

The data collected and analyzed in this survey represent a rather small sample in proportion to the total membership of the Prince George's County Board of Realtors and provide only a general measurement of patterns and practices of its members. Nevertheless, the data are sufficient and are reasonably representative of the extent to which the affirmative action program is being implemented.

The data collected clearly indicate that there is considerable room for improvement in the implementation of the plan. The board as well as its member firms are urged to increase efforts to fully implement each provision of the plan.

RECOMMENDATIONS

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1. Issue Public Statement of Board's Open Housing Policy

2.

3.

A vigorous public information campaign should be launched
to make known the policy and committment of the Prince
George's County Board of Realtors to open housing. Such
a statement should include discussion of the objectives
of the Board's Equal Housing Opportunity and Affirmative
Action Program.

Increase Employment Opportunities for Minorities as
Salespersons

Specific attention should be given to increasing the
number of Black persons on the sales force and other
personnel categories within real estate firms.
findings of this survey clearly indicate the lack of
Black and other minority salespersons in real estate
firms in the county. These findings serve to support
the findings of previous studies conducted by this
agency on this subject.*

Initiate Active Recruitment of Minority Brokers
Increased efforts should be made to invite minority
brokers and salespersons to become members of the Board.
Maintain Practices Which Conform to Federal Advertising
Guidelines for Fair Housing

Section 804 (c) of Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of
1968 prohibits discriminatory advertising in the sale or
rental of housing. HUD's Advertising Guidelines for Fair
Housing detail specific measures for housing advertisers
to ensure violations of Title VIII do not occur. The find-
ings of this survey indicate possible violations of these
Guidelines and Title VIII. Further, the findings clearly
indicate nonadherence to specific provisions of the Board's
Affirmative Action Plan. Affirmative steps should be taken
to implement these provisions.

"Black Employment in Real Estate Sales" (August 1974) and "Racial Employment Patterns in Real Estate Sales" (March 1973). These two previous studies documented the extent to which Black persons are employed in real estate sales in the metropolitan Washington suburban real estate industry. The findings of both studies indicate that insignificant numbers of Blacks are employed in the real estate firms of the Washington metropolitan area. The findings indicate the existance of a highly segregated industry.

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5.

Prominently Display All Equal Housing Opportunities Codes

The two Codes of Fair Housing Practices adopted by the board are not being prominently displayed by members in their respective places of business. In some instances at least one code was not displayed at all.

Initiate Regular Monitoring and Reporting

To encourage use of the plan, the board should institute a procedure for regular monitoring and/or reporting on the part of member firms.

Use of Housing Opportunities Committee

The Housing Opportunities Committee should be encouraged
to work actively among member firms, to visit offices,
to conduct educational seminars, and in other ways moti-
vate members to promote equal housing opportunity
throughout the county (and not just in certain areas).

Include Equal Housing Opportunity in Regular Meetings
The continual use of refresher "spots" during regular
meetings of the membership helps build knowledge and
create positive attitudes and support for equal housing
opportunity.

Use Regular Public Relations and Include EHO

Include with the ongoing public relations program to build the Realtor image information about equal housing opportunity.

Cooperate with Citizens' Groups

Citizens are interested in the healthy development of their neighborhoods and county. A cooperative relationship with those groups interested in ensuring that equal housing opportunity be available to all home seekers should be established.

11. Initiate a Procedure for Obtaining Subscriptions of Individual Board Members Adopting the Plan

Acquiring subscriptions to the plan serves at least two purposes. One, it provides the opportunity to publically declare ones intent to implement the plan. Two, it serves to facilitate the evaluation process.