Per Capita Charges and Households with Children

Per capita charges are “per person” fees that require larger households to pay more for housing than a household without children (e.g. $750 for two people and $50 for each additional occupant up to six). Per capita charges more readily affect families with children since, in the typical case, differences in the number of individuals in a household are related to the number of children in the family. If a housing provider can offer a legitimate, nondiscriminatory justification for the policy, then it may be permissible.

If you live in Philadelphia, Southeast Pennsylvania or Lehigh Valley and have questions about familial status discrimination in housing, contact info@equalhousing.org, 866-540-FAIR or complete an online form.

Resources:

• Housing Equality Center Families with Children Fact Sheet