Income Discrimination Would Be Outlawed Under Housing Bill: Exec

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD — County Executive Johnny Olszewski is introducing a bill he says will end housing discrimination in Baltimore County. The HOME Act will be presented at the County Council's meeting Monday, Oct. 7.

The acronym stands for Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME), and the act would make it illegal for a landlord to refuse to rent to a tenant based on a person's source of income. A job, public assistance program, inheritance or property sale could be sources of income.

"It's time that Baltimore County ends discrimination based on source of income," Olszewski said at a press conference introducing the measure Friday, Oct. 4. "It's time for Baltimore County to finally take action."

Anne Arundel County and Baltimore City passed laws earlier this year that are similar, he said, and Montgomery, Howard and Frederick counties already had such a bill on the books.

"Discrimination of any kind is wrong, and we have to do everything in our power to expand economic opportunity, improve equity, and eliminate pockets of poverty in our communities," Olszewski said. Much like a landlord cannot discriminate against renters based on their race, sex or religion, they would be prohibited from denying them the opportunity to rent based on how they get their income.

One source of income renters may rely on is the Housing Choice Voucher program, also known as Section 8, a federally funded initiative administered through each local jurisdiction. Tenants pay 30 percent of their income on rent and receive funds to cover the remaining cost via voucher.

Baltimore County distributes approximately 5,000 vouchers, according to Olszewski, who said the HOME Act would allow these people more flexibility in choosing where they live. Almost 70 percent of those in the voucher program in Maryland are seniors, people with disabilities or children, the county administration reported.

"This bill gives people with disabilities, veterans and others a fair chance to do what’s best for their families," Councilman Julian Jones said. "It’s long past time for Baltimore County to act to protect county residents from housing discrimination."

Executive Director of Baltimore County Housing Marsha J. Parham said that there are more than 25,000 families on the waiting list in Baltimore County for the voucher program. The county opted to close the list since there was more than a 12-year wait.

"We don't want to continue to give false hope to these families," Parham said.

There is an "overwhelming shortage" of available housing stock, according to Parham, who said that this bill would ensure "every resident in Baltimore County has access to safe, secure and affordable housing."

The federal government has ordered Baltimore County to pass the bill to make up for its past discriminatory actions.

"This is one of several actions the county is legally mandated to take to resolve a number of federal housing discrimination complaints," according to the HOME Act summary Olszewski provided. "These complaints alleged that the discriminatory nature of Baltimore County’s housing and zoning policies led to significant racial and socioeconomic segregation. Failure to meet the agreement’s terms would be met with significant legal action."

The bill must be introduced every calendar year until it passes, according to a legally binding agreement with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Watch the press conference where Olszewski made the announcement of the HOME Act proposal: