But Moore did not respond to questions around whether the irregular contact with investigators and delays in Wood's case and among other complainants interviewed by the Press was concerning to division officials. A Press investigation in Octoberfound that New Jersey landlords openly and routinely turn away housing applicants who receive government rental assistance in Wood's case a Section8 housing voucher withlittle fear of the state intervening. In other places, language in source-of-income discrimination laws that are broadly defined to include any federal, state, or local housing assistance may also cover those households applying for ERAP. Im very hesitant to accuse the state of not doing their job, but thats the way it seems., He added:It means that (Wood's) being screwed, or at least thats certainly how she feels. American Bar Association What sources of income are protected? State of New Jersey (Details on how to check can be found here.). By the terms of the NSAs, the parties have agreed to resolve the case, and the housing providers have agreed to comply with the LADs prohibition against source-of-income discrimination in housing, to receive training on their obligations as housing providers under the LAD, and to make payments to the individual complainants to resolve the respective complainants claims against the housing providers. Because there's clearly no timeline by law. Following a final adjudication on the merits, a respondent found conclusively to violate the LAD may be required to pay a penalty of up to $10,000 per violation for their first adjudicated violation, and up to $50,000 per violation if they commit multiple adjudicated violations within a five-year period. If there is no movement on her case by February, she plans to withdraw the complaint and try to pursue it as a civil matter in Superior Court. Ryan Ross and Tanya Breen, Asbury Park Press, Advocates call for more enforcement on Section 8 discrimination, New Jersey Bias Investigation Access System, plagued with cigarette smoke and cockroaches, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Under the settlement agreements and consent decrees announced today, the housing provider has agreed to comply with the LADs prohibition against source-of-income discrimination in housing, to receive training on its obligation as a housing provider under the LAD, and to make a payment to the individual complainant to resolve the complainants claims. Source of Income Discrimination Form - New York State Attorney General Landlords and property managers cannot refuse to rent units to potential tenants because they would pay with a Section 8 housing voucher or other public assistance, for example. Your email address will not be published. Some programs provide a one-time financial boost while others offer monthly rent subsidies or permanent housing that may include supportive services for veterans and people who are chronically homeless. PDF State of New Jersey 2020-2024 Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Zillow, Inc. holds real estate brokerage licenses in multiple states. What is she supposed to do? The practice of refusing to rent to voucher holders is known as "source-of-income discrimination." This form of discrimination disproportionately affects renters of color, renters with disabilities, elderly renters, and women. Theyre slow-rolling, Wood, a criminal justice graduate student at Rutgers University and a mother of two, said of state enforcement officials. Of those complaints, 213 were officially filed with the division launching a full review with an assigned investigator. The landlord does not always checkCaucasian applicants credit records or overlooks small credit problems in their records. It is not Zillow's intention to solicit or interfere with any established agency relationship you may have with a real estate professional. The vast majority of these laws protect families with Housing Choice Vouchers (HCVs), among other types of lawful income, and we estimate (based on CBPP data) that approximately half of U.S. HCV families live in areas protected by an SOI law. AG Platkin Announces Enforcement Actions in Source-of-Income Discrimination Cases, Issuing Findings of Probable Cause in Six Cases and Consent Decrees in Two Additional Cases New Jersey's Law Against Discrimination Bars Landlords from Discriminating Against Potential Tenants Based on Their Receipt of Government Rental Assistance In Washington, D.C., individuals who violate the D.C. Human Rights Act are subject to damages and civil penalties ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 per discriminatory act. P.O. The New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD) prohibits discrimination when selling or renting property. For example, some places only protect sources of public assistance, such as those provided through housing vouchers and rapid re-housing and permanent supportive housing programs. The authors recommend that additional policies should be proposed by governments to directly target and address income discrimination eligibility for ERAP. More information about filing a claim with the EEOC can be found at the EEOC Filing a Charge page. (function($) {window.fnames = new Array(); window.ftypes = new Array();fnames[0]='EMAIL';ftypes[0]='email';fnames[1]='FNAME';ftypes[1]='text';fnames[2]='LNAME';ftypes[2]='text';}(jQuery));var $mcj = jQuery.noConflict(true); Subscribe to Receive JJC Proposed Rules Email Notifications, STATE OF NEW JERSEY | DEPARTMENT OF LAW & PUBLIC SAFETY, Feedback form for NJRC Inquiries/Feedback and Account Wagering, Defending our Workforce and Holding Employers Accountable, Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control Notices Limited Brewery Licensees and Temporary Permit Holders Concerning License Renewals for 2023-2024 Term, AG Platkin: Previously Indicted Paterson School Bus Company Operator Indicted Again for Allegedly Continuing to Use Unqualified School Bus Drivers and Failing to Pay Tens of Thousands in Tolls, AG Platkin: Four Arrested After Stolen Vehicle Hits Officers, Crashes into Homeland Security Agents Car While Attempting to Elude Police in Newark, AG Platkin, Division on Civil Rights Take Enforcement Action to Combat LGBTQIA+ Discrimination, Statement from Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin on Todays Decision Regarding Affirmative Action in College Admissions. You received a recording of a phone call that clearly stated discrimination. Laws in other places do not require landlords to participate in rental assistance programs like housing vouchers. She said her landlord is now accommodating her ongoing housing search. WHEREAS, twelve states, (CA, CT, ME, MA, MN, NJ, ND, OK, OR, UT, VT, WI) have amended their laws to prohibit housing discrimination based on the source of income. A quick way to see whether a rental home is located in a place that bans income-based discrimination is to check for Local Legal Protections on the, at Zillow.com. Have questions about buying, selling or renting during COVID-19? Civil Rights in New Jersey, 1945-2020: Housing Discrimination A landlord refuses to rent an apartment to a person with a mental disability. Landlords cannot choose renters or buyers based on a persons race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, nationality, marital or domestic partnership or civil union status, sex, gender identity or expression, disability, affectional or sexual orientation, family status or source of lawful income or source of lawful rent payment (such as rental assistance from the Housing Choice Voucher Program formerly known as Section 8). It's time to renew your membership and keep access to free CLE, valuable publications and more. Landlords in Washington state who violate the states source-of-income law can be held responsible for more than four times the monthly rent, plus court costs and attorney fees. Its frustrating, Woodsaid. Yeah, we dont take that, the Woodbridge landlord said of Wood's Section 8 housing voucher,in a recording of the phone call Woodshared with thePress. In most states, landlords are permitted to discriminate against prospective tenants based on their source of income; and, WHEREAS, studies have shown families in need of housing gain greater access to decent, affordable housing when the source of income discrimination is prohibited; and, WHEREAS, economically diverse communities are created by the wide acceptance of Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, and such communities have the resources to provide better schools, social services, and job opportunities and are better able to help low-income families break the cycle of poverty; and. Source: Poverty & Race Research Action Council, Expanding Choice: Practical Strategies for Building a Successful Housing Mobility Program, Appendix B. How to Find Out If Your State Has Source of Income Protection Laws - Zillow Source-of-Income Discrimination Cases Archives - New Jersey Office of Attorney General Press Releases : Source-of-Income Discrimination Cases AG Platkin Announces Enforcement Actions in Source-of-Income Discrimination Cases, Issuing Findings of Probable Cause in Four Cases and Resolutions in Four Additional Cases She had recorded a Woodbridge landlord rejecting her apartment application because Woodreceivesfederal rental assistance, commonly called a Section 8 voucher. Organizations Helping Victims of Discrimination Victims of source of income discrimination can contact the Connecticut Fair Housing Center at (888) 247-4401. Urban Institute: Laws Against Source-of-Income Discrimination - CLPHA A few years ago, Jill Williams, an honorably discharged veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard, received a special housing subsidy for U.S. veterans to help her pay for housing. However, it is unlawful to discriminate against families with children, except in certain qualified housing developments intended specifically for older persons, which may be allowed to exclude children. Your membership has expired - last chance for uninterrupted access to free CLE and other benefits. That total represents a community larger than Brick, Camden, Passaic or Cherry Hill. Whats the purpose of a strong law like that if it just doesnt work? he said. Since then, she has not heard from her assigned investigator. In Massachusetts, the guidance provides that local emergency rental assistance . To file a claim with the EEOC, contact your local EEOC office below. There are many local and federal programs that help individuals and families with low incomes afford safe, decent and clean rental units or homes in which to live and raise their families. The housing provider must make a payment to the individual who filed the complaint in settlement of the claims brought by the complainant. AG Platkin Announces Enforcement Actions in Source-of-Income On Tuesday, after following up again, Wood said the investigator told her the state had received a response from the landlord. Know the Law | Employment Discrimination - New Jersey Office of Formany voucher holders, time is of the essence and not just because competition for apartments can be fierce. also included SOI protection in her broader American Housing and Economic Mobility Act, S. 3503 (2018). Our programsare the heart of the work we do supporting our members and improving the state of public housing in America. A fourth case of alleged housing discrimination was resolved via a consent decree. Build a broad coalition led by persons with lived experience. Complaints from other housing seekers have also gone unanswered. The four resolved cases also involved allegations that housing providers in Atlantic and Middlesex counties discriminated against recipients of government rental assistance. State of New Jersey | Department of Law & Public Safety, Jun 15, 2023 | Atlantic County | Division on Civil Rights | Findings of Probable Cause | Law Against Discrimination (LAD) | Middlesex County | Source-of-Income Discrimination Cases | Bias and Discrimination | Civil Rights | Division on Civil Rights | Press Release. Other places such as. Our laws provide strong protections against housing discrimination, and we are committed to enforcing them and ensuring that all New Jersey residents have access to safe, affordable housing, said Sundeep Iyer, Director of the Division on Civil Rights. Jay has been a guest on Americas Morning Headquarters,program on The Weather Channel, and was interviewed by Sam Champion. Council of Large Public Housing Authorities Im not really sure why nothing has been done yet.. (Details on how to check can be found here. From the point of view of this tenant, who is being effectively ignored, its horrendous.. Landlords who turn away potential renters who receive rental assistance are in violation of the LAD, Platkin said. Landlords can use their regular (lawful) screening criteria and charge security deposits and regular rents. TTY Users may contact the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights through the New Jersey Relay Operator. InSeptember 2021,the Urban Institute published an article that examined howstate and local source-of-income laws can increase the effectiveness of regional emergency rental assistance programs (ERAP) and make them more equitable by expanding participation of historically marginalized communities. Kimberly asked to be identified only by her first name to protect her familys privacy. Source-of-income discrimination - New York State Attorney General The two consent decrees were issued in cases involving alleged housing discrimination in Essex and Somerset counties. Starting in my own community! Understand the perception of the local housing agencies that administer vouchers and attempt to address any challenges. Please switch to a supported browser or download one of our Mobile Apps. State of New Jersey | Department of Law & Public Safety, by NJOAG Communications | Feb 17, 2023 | Enforcement Actions | Finding of Probable Cause | Source of Income Discrimination | Bias and Discrimination | Civil Rights | Division on Civil Rights | Press Release |, New Jerseys Law Against Discrimination Bars Landlords from Discriminating Against Potential Tenants Based on Their Receipt of Government Rental Assistance, Office of the Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, Attorney GeneralDivision on Civil Rights Sundeep Iyer, Director, Media Inquiries-Tara OliverOAGpress@njoag.gov. Wood, who has had her voucher for three years, can continue to use it in her Edison apartment but her search for new housing continues. The enforcement actions we are announcing today send a clear signal: We will not tolerate discrimination against housing applicants simply because they receive government rental assistance.. Protections from Discrimination or Harassment in Housing - LSNJLAW Learn more, .subnav-back-arrow-st0{fill:none;stroke:#0074E4;stroke-linecap:round;} This is called steering. We are continuously working to improve the accessibility of our web experience for everyone, and we welcome feedback and accommodation requests. Landlords who turn away potential renters who receive rental assistance are in violation of the LAD, said Attorney General Platkin. The Office of the New York State Attorney General investigates and enforces lawful source-of-income protections. TRENTON Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin announced today that the Division on Civil Rights (DCR) has issued findings of probable cause in six cases and has issued consent decrees in another two cases, all of which involve alleged violations of the New Jersey Law Against Discriminations prohibition against housing discrimination based on source of lawful income. The law prohibits discrimination in all aspects of employment including but not limited to: Recruitment, job postings, interviews, and hiring decisions; Promotions; Terminations; Compensation, including salary and benefits; All terms, conditions or privileges of employment; and. The findings of probable cause were issued in six cases involving the denial of rental housing in Atlantic, Bergen, Hunterdon, Sussex, and Union counties. But after that initial phone call, Dexter said her complaint did not go any further. Zillow (Canada), Inc. holds real estate brokerage licenses in multiple provinces. 442-H New York Standard Operating Procedures New York Fair Housing NoticeTREC: Information about brokerage services, Consumer protection noticeCalifornia DRE #1522444Contact Zillow, Inc. But thestatelawdraws no such distinctions. 2-1402.21) prohibits discrimination on the basis of income or its derivation, including Section 8 voucher assistance. PDF Source of Income Summary - Connecting Research to Advocacy on Budget & Policy Priorities (Dec. 20, 2018).) Get the full, detailed list of 2007 Resolutions. . The consent decrees impose the following remedies: In both matters, the housing provider does not admit liability for violating the LAD. But when Wood followed up on Nov. 19, the investigator said they had granted the landlord a requested 10-day extension. OurLegislative & Policy work gives a voice in Washington to the millions of public housing residents across the country, and to the many organizations working to improve public housing communities. The employer rejected the worker despite his or her qualifications. In the four cases in which DCR issued findings of probable cause, the complaints alleged that landlords refused to rent to applicants due to the applicants intent to pay part of their rent through the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program (Section 8).
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