NLIHC invites advocates to join a sign-on letter urging Congress to enact the “Fair Housing Improvement Act.” The act would increase access to housing for families receiving federal rental assistance by prohibiting housing discrimination based on source of income, military status, and veteran status. The Fair Housing Improvement Act was introduced in the U.S. Senate (S.4485) by Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a former fair housing attorney, and in the U.S. House of Representatives (H.R.8213) by Representative Scott Peters (D-CA) (see Memo, 6/27). The bill is supported by NLIHC and leading national organizations from the housing, faith, civil rights, food security, health, and anti-poverty sectors represented in the Opportunity Starts at Home (OSAH) campaign. The full letter can be found here.
By helping low-income households afford rent, rental assistance programs like the Housing Choice Vouchers program can improve health and educational outcomes, increase children’s chances of long-term success, and increase racial equity. Too often, however, landlords discriminate against households receiving rental assistance, leaving these households with few options for where to live. Research by the Urban Institute shows landlords deny housing to households with federal rental assistance, particularly in markets without source-of-income protections. While several states and localities have passed source-of-income protection laws, federal law does not prohibit this type of discrimination. An estimated 50% of all voucher holders are protected by state and local non-discrimination laws. By expanding source-of-income protections to renters nationwide, the “Fair Housing Improvement Act” would make it easier for households receiving federal housing assistance, including households with veterans, to live in communities of their choice.
Learn more about the “Fair Housing Improvement Act” at: https://bit.ly/3AiKeHy
Show your organization’s support for the “Fair Housing Improvement Act” by joining our sign-on letter at: https://p2a.co/9n8zrld