Renters say sex sometimes part of the deal
BY CHARLES LASZEWSKI, Pioneer Press
Jean Pieri, Pioneer Press

For Rent: Midway area, 2BR, ht pd, $725. Must have sex with landlord.
The advertisements in the classified sections of the daily newspaper aren't that explicit. But for some women searching for an affordable place to live in the Twin Cities, they might as well be.
The region's housing market, one of the tightest in the country, is having some ugly effects. Low-income women, many of them single mothers, are being preyed on by landlords, apartment caretakers and others who demand sexual favors in return for making repairs, overlooking lease violations or forgiving late rent checks.
Putting a number to the trend is difficult, partly because no one is responsible for tracking complaints. Even the government agencies that enforce housing laws have sketchy information, at best.
"This is a very large problem that is just being uncovered,'' said Beverly Balos, supervising attorney at the University of Minnesota's Law Center.
"It's hard for these women to come forward," said Balos, who has assisted on three such lawsuits and written extensively on violence against women. "They are embarrassed, ashamed and afraid of losing their housing.'' Read more