Source of Income Discrimination and Fair Housing Policy

Abstract

The housing choice voucher program was designed with two main goals in mind: to eliminate concentrations of poverty and the social problems it causes and to provide poor households with greater access to higher-opportunity neighborhoods. However, research suggests that voucher holders would like to move to higher-opportunity neighborhoods, but often are unable to do so. One of the most prominent reasons for this is that, in most cities and states, local law allows landlords to discriminate against potential tenants on the grounds of their ''source of income'' (SOI). This article reviews the literature on discrimination of voucher recipients and the potential for SOI antidiscrimination laws to mitigate some of these negative outcomes.

Equity First: Conceptualizing a Normative Framework to Assess the Role of Preemption in Public Health

“…Similarly, Austin, Texas, sought to address racial and socioeconomic discrimination in rental housing by prohibiting landlords from rejecting otherwise qualified tenants based solely on their source of income (eg, federal housing assistance) . The state legislature responded by nullifying Austin's ordinance and preempting municipalities from enacting similar antidiscrimination laws, despite the absence of any statewide protections for recipients of housing assistance and despite clear evidence that source‐of‐income discrimination disproportionately harms people of color . Similar stories have developed across the country as statehouses have stripped communities’ ability to pursue policies related to paid leave, pay equity, employment and housing discrimination, local hiring preferences, housing affordability, and traditional public health issues such as tobacco control and the taxation of sugary drinks…”

Demand-side assistance in Australia’s rental housing market: exploring reform options

“…One reason for this is refusal of vouchers by landlords. In response, 13 jurisdictions have prohibited discrimination against voucher holders, but enforcement is weak (Tighe, Hatch et al 2017).…”

State Landlord–Tenant Policy and Eviction Rates in Majority-Minority Neighborhoods

“…Source-of-income discrimination has led to a concentration of low-income housing assistance recipients in low-income minority neighborhoods (Basolo & Nguyen, 2005;Greenlee, 2014;Rothstein, 2017). Tighe, Hatch, and Mead (2017) suggest intersectional discrimination, where sourceof-income discrimination has led to landlords discriminating against Black-but not White-Housing Choice Voucher recipients, despite the same sources of income. Similarly, landlords use tenant screening companies to assess criminal history, credit scores, and eviction records (Kleysteuber, 2007;Thacher, 2008).…”

“…Some local ordinances allow landlords to discriminate based on source of income, allowing them to refuse to rent to Housing Choice Voucher recipients. Because Housing Choice Voucher recipients are more likely to include low-income and/or racial minority tenants, these policies adversely affect marginalized populations (Tighe et al, 2017). Even more, voucher programs tend to concentrate the availability of these units in low-income neighborhoods and create bias among landlords.…”