Watchdog group sues 36 New York agents and landlords for housing discrimination The New York watchdog group Housing Rights Initiative, after an eight-month investigation using testers, has sued 36 agents, brokers and landlords in New York state court alleging their activities led to housing discrimination. The investigation centered on alleged discrimination against Section 8 recipients. Race is not the only inequity real estate brokers, agents and leaders need to focus on. This investigation and lawsuit highlights another important element of diversity that the industry needs to focus on as well: discrimination against lower-income clients. This broad-based need to improve industry diversity is one of driving forces behind The Real Estate Apprentice Foundation, a nationwide nonprofit founded by T3 Sixty CEO Stefan Swanepoel, that aims to help people from underrepresented and underprivileged groups jumpstart real estate careers.