LWVMD Action Alert on Housing Discrimination

[LWVMD Action and Info]

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HB 1261

Housing-discrimination based on source of income - Discrimination

 

 

 

Friday, March 14th the House Environment Matters Committee will hold a
hearing on HB 1261.  The LWVMD STRONGLY SUPPORTS this bill.  The issue of
discrimination in housing based on the source of an individual's or family's
source of income has been a fair housing issue of concern for many years.
Bills similar to HB 1261 have been introduced but not passed several times.
This is an important issue to address successfully this year.  It will
provide significant assistance to many Marylanders seeking housing and not
cost the state anything! 

 

If this bill becomes law, it will open doors to many low and moderate income
renters that many landlords currently refuse to considered based solely on
their source of income.  This affects women who rely on alimony and child
support is part of their income, individuals with disabilities who rely on
SSDI as their source of income, and those who receive rental assistance from
a government program.  In counties where source of income discrimination is
prohibited, lower income families are housed throughout the community rather
than in pockets of low income.

 

Some legislators incorrectly assume this will require a landlord to accept a
prospective tenant using rental assistance.  This is not true.  HB 1261 does
NOT prohibit a landlord/seller from determining the ability of a potential
renter/buyer to pay a rent/purchase price, by: (1) verifying the source and
amount of income of the renter/buyer; and (2) evaluating the stability,
security, and credit-worthiness of the renter/buyer or their source of
income.  HB 1261 does NOT prevent a landlord/seller from refusing to
consider income derived from any criminal activity.  HB 1261 does NOT apply
to landlords owning four or fewer rental units in the State. 

 

Please contact your Delegate if they are on this committee and tell them
that you and the LWVMD support HB 1261 as a fair housing issue.   

 

 

Environmental Matters Committee:

Maggie <http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa12268.html>
McIntosh, Chair (410) 841-3990, (301) 858-3990
James E. <http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa12263.html>
Malone, Jr., Vice-Chair (410) 841-3378, (301) 858-3378 

Saqib Ali <http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa14612.html> 
Pamela G. <http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa14495.html>
Beidle
Elizabeth <http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa12188.html>
Bobo
Joseph C. <http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa13982.html>
Boteler III
Rudolph <http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa02769.html>  C.
Cane
Alfred C. <http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa14770.html>
Carr, Jr.
Virginia <http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa12200.html>  P.
Clagett
Barbara <http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa12225.html>  A.
Frush
Cheryl D. <http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa14618.html>
Glenn
Anne <http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa12238.html>  Healey
Marvin E. <http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa13964.html>
Holmes, Jr.
Tom <http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa14620.html>  Hucker
Stephen <http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa14625.html>  W.
Lafferty
Doyle L. <http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa13967.html>
Niemann
H. Wayne <http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa14773.html>
Norman, Jr.
Anthony <http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa12284.html>  J.
O'Donnell
Tanya <http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa14319.html>  Thorton
Shewell
Richard <http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa14003.html>  A.
Sossi
Dana M. <http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa13918.html>  Stein
Paul S. <http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa12310.html>  Stull
Michael <http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa14010.html>  H.
Weir, Jr. 

 

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