Latest news with #FairHousing
Bloomberg
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Bloomberg
As Trump Reshapes Housing Policy, Renters Face Rollback of Rights
During the first 100 days of the Trump administration, a flurry of executive orders, policy reversals and proposed funding cuts have threatened to dramatically curtail housing assistance and renter protections in cities across the US. At the Department of Housing and Urban Development, field offices are slated to close and staff may be cut in half. HUD has vowed to withhold funds from sanctuary cities that don't cooperate with President Donald Trump's efforts to deport undocumented residents and to stop enforcing the Equal Access Rule, which protects tenants regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Trump has also re-revoked HUD's Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing standard — a target of his first term that mandates communities receiving federal aid proactively address barriers to fair housing.
Axios
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Fair housing grants next on DOGE chopping block
Ohio's largest legal aid organization stands to lose significant federal funding via DOGE cuts. Why it matters: Lost funding could render Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio unable to help people facing housing discrimination in most of the region. How it works: LASCO provides civil legal services to 36 Ohio counties, focusing largely on helping low-income residents. Programs help people obtain and keep housing, secure public benefits and fund legal cases. Those helped are often domestic violence survivors, families in poverty and people who face discrimination. Catch up quick: On Feb. 27, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and DOGE cut $30 million in congressionally authorized funding for 78 Fair Housing Initiatives Program grants, which fund organizations across the country. Four National Fair Housing Alliance members filed a class action lawsuit March 13 against HUD and DOGE alleging the cuts were unlawful. A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order to reinstate the grants but dissolved that order Monday, allowing HUD to move forward with cancellation of funds. Threat level: For LASCO, this would mean the loss of $425,000 a year representing about 70% of the funding for Fair Housing work, senior managing attorney Melissa Benson says. That money pays for LASCO programming and staff, both of which would suffer from cuts. LASCO receives a separate grant that covers the city of Columbus and some other small sources of funding, but not nearly enough to close the gap. What they're saying:"[Fair housing] has really become a big part of our work, and it is something we think really matters and affects the community. To not know the extent of which we're going to be able to provide these services is difficult," Benson says. Between the lines: April is Fair Housing Month, which celebrates "the advancements of equal access to housing." The other side: HUD spokesperson Kasey Lovett says she cannot comment on FHIP grants because of the active legal case, but contends that fair housing enforcement is not being reduced due to the cuts. "To suggest anything else is false," she tells Axios in an email. " See here for the Secretary's recent comments reaffirming the Department's commitment to supporting the Fair Housing Act." She adds: "Funding to external entities is a separate matter from the enforcement the Department will uphold. Therefore, enforcement will not be reduced." What's next: Benson and LASCO expect continued legal challenges, but nothing has been announced.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
WA Attorney General sues company, landlords for alleged rental inflations
The Washington State Attorney General announced a lawsuit against a software company and nine landlords for allegedly artificially inflating rental prices. Attorney General Nick Brown held a press conference in Seattle Thursday morning about his latest lawsuit. Brown claims that RealPage, a software company, colluded with nine landlords, which impacted around 800,000 renters across the region from 2017 to 2024. 'RealPage and landlords conspired to artificially raise rents for thousands of people in multi-family housing in Washington,' Brown said. 'Washington needs a competitive market to help with our critical shortage of affordable multi-family housing. RealPage's unfair practices are drowning renters and pricing more and more families out of stable houses in Washington.' According to Brown's lawsuit, landlords would share sensitive, non-public information to the software company, which would then feed into the firm's algorithm that favors higher rental prices. Brown said the company would tell landlords to keep prices high even if they had empty units. 'Every step of their pricing method favors setting rents at the very top of the market, artificially pushing that ceiling higher. That's price fixing. It's illegal and it hurts Washingtonians,' he said. 'The company advises its client landlords to automatically accept the higher pricing recommendations. It tells landlords to keep prices high even when occupancy is down.' The lawsuit lists RealPage, and nine local landlords as the defendants, including Greystar, Cushman & Wakefield/Pinncale, LivCor, LLC, UDR, Inc., Quarterra Multifamily Communities, LLC, LaSalle Properties, LLC, MG Properties, LLC, and Sares Regis Management Company, L.P. KIRO 7 News reached out to landlords for their response. We're still waiting to hear back as of Thursday. The Attorney General said his office filed the lawsuit in King County Superior Court after pulling out of a federal lawsuit involving RealPage. 'We filed this case in state court because we believe that state law protects a greater number of Washingtonians and tenants than the federal case had,' he said. Jennifer Bowcock, senior vice president of communications for RealPage, shared the following statement with us: 'Washington State AG Nick Brown decided to recycle misleading and inaccurate allegations from predecessor cases, despite our efforts to constructively engage with his Office to help resolve their misunderstandings. RealPage's revenue management software is purposely designed and built to be legally compliant and has always used data legally and responsibly, and we have a long history of working constructively to show that. RealPage's revenue management software uses data responsibly, aids compliance with Fair Housing laws, rent control laws and state of emergency price gouging laws and does not use any personal or demographic data to generate rent price recommendations. We believe the claims brought by Washington State AG Nick Brown are devoid of merit and will do nothing to make housing more affordable. Washington State should stop scapegoating pro-competitive technology, and we encourage Washington State's public leaders to focus on meeting the greater demand for housing with more supply. Washington State's residents deserve real solutions to increase access to affordable housing.'
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Wisconsin housing crisis fueled by the Thurmond Amendment. Repeal this relic.
When former President Biden commuted the sentences of nearly 2,500 nonviolent drug offenders in January before leaving office, he reignited attention to the unjust sentencing disparities born from the "War on Drugs" policies that continue to harm thousands of Wisconsinites decades later. Chief among these relics is the Thurmond Amendment, a draconian policy that enforces a lifetime of punishment by denying Fair Housing protections to individuals convicted of drug distribution, no matter how much time has passed or how much they've rebuilt their lives. Imagine making a mistake as a young adult and getting mixed up with drugs. After serving your sentence, maturing, and working hard to rebuild your life, you're ready to start fresh. Only to discover years later that a single conviction legally locks you out of housing opportunities indefinitely. Some landlords won't return your calls. Others deny your application outright, regardless of your income, credit score, or rental history. Opinion: Providing services to released inmates cuts recidivism and boosts life prospects This is the reality for over 50,000 Wisconsinites living under the shadow of the Thurmond Amendment. These individuals and their families often face a lifetime sentence for low-level offenses involving small quantities of drugs. Take the case of Stacey Smiter, a Wisconsin resident convicted of marijuana distribution. For years, Stacey faced rejection in the housing market or was forced to pay exorbitant security deposits solely because of his record. His punishment didn't end with his sentence — it extended into every corner of his life as he struggled to secure stable housing for his family. Ironically, had Stacey been convicted of a violent crime, he would not face this legal barrier. In 2016, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued guidance requiring landlords to consider criminal records in the context of other factors, such as rental, credit, and employment history. However, the Thurmond Amendment excludes drug distribution convictions from these protections, creating a loophole that leaves individuals like Stacey permanently locked out of fair housing opportunities. The impact of the Thurmond Amendment in Wisconsin is staggering. Since its enactment in 1988, over 50,000 people in the state have been convicted of drug distribution offenses, many involving minor amounts of drugs. Eleven percent of all drug convictions in Wisconsin are for marijuana, and 81% of cocaine convictions involve small amounts tied to personal use. Many of these individuals, had they been charged in today's political environment, would have faced simple possession charges and retained their Fair Housing protections. The law's effects are also deeply inequitable. Black Wisconsinites are 12 times more likely than white residents to receive a drug distribution conviction. For amounts as small as three grams or less, that disparity rises to 15 times. By denying stable housing, the Thurmond Amendment perpetuates cycles of poverty, recidivism, and family instability — all while offering no measurable benefit to public safety. Housing is the foundation of stability and opportunity. In today's historically tight housing market, denying families protections based on decades-old convictions—while ignoring standard measures of risk like credit score or rental history — isn't just bad policy. It's an unjustified barrier to economic mobility that harms individuals, families, and communities alike. Thankfully, there's reason for optimism. Reforming this issue has strong support from industry leaders such as the Rental Apartment Association of Wisconsin and Wisconsin Realtors. Both groups have endorsed repealing the Thurmond Amendment, recognizing that the law harms individuals who have paid their debt to society without benefiting the housing market. As the Rental Apartment Association noted: "Good renters deserve options in the rental market that align with their family's needs and wants. If a tenant qualifies for an apartment based on income, rental, and credit history, they should not be denied housing simply because of a conviction from decades ago." Repealing the Thurmond Amendment would also align with bipartisan efforts like the First Step Act, signed by President Donald Trump in 2018, and the Fair Chance Act, co-sponsored by Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson. Opinion: Doctors battle misinformation. RFK Jr. is wrong — and measles may only be start. Policies that show reforming punitive laws can promote second chances without compromising community safety. Now is the time for Wisconsin legislators on Capitol Hill to act. By removing this unnecessary and discriminatory barrier, we can ensure that people like Stacey Smiter are judged not by their past mistakes but by their current record of responsibility. Stable housing is not just essential for individuals—it strengthens families, supports economic growth, and builds stronger communities for all Wisconsinites. Shannon Ross is the CEO of The Community and Co-founder of Paradigm Shyft. Yusuf Dahl is the CEO of the Century Promise, the past president of the Rental Property Association of Wisconsin and is currently leading the national effort to repeal the Thurmond Amendment This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Decades old convictions prevent many from securing housing | Opinion
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Yahoo
Good Cause Eviction training sessions to be held this week
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) – Binghamton City Council is looking to educate the community on its newly passed legislation. After months of meetings, hearing both positive feedback and push back, Binghamton City Council unanimously passed the Good Cause Eviction Law on February 12. City Council says Good Cause Eviction will prohibit landlords from making unwarranted evictions, prevent rent hikes, and hold bad landlords accountable. As part of City Council's commitment to supporting both tenants and landlords in navigating the implementation of the law, CNY Fair Housing will host training sessions later this week. The sessions will include information about the legislation's expanded protections and protocol requirements. From Councilmember Nate Hotchkiss introduced the local law late last year. Good Cause Eviction passes through Binghamton City Council 'While we look forward to the positive impact Good Cause Eviction law will have on housing stability for local residents, we recognize that even good change can come with challenges. This week's training is just the first among several opportunities being coordinated to make ongoing education and legal expertise available to those impacted by the anticipated adoption,' said Hotchkiss. The Fair Housing training for Landlords will be held on Thursday from 10 to 11:30 a.m. in the Ahearn Room at the Broome County Public Library. The Fair Housing training for Service Providers and Tenants will also be held in the Ahearn Room on Thursday, taking place from 2 to 3:30. Big Lots in Vestal closing, hosting inventory sale Delaware County man accused of child sex abuse Good Cause Eviction training sessions to be held this week Tickets for annual 'Meet the Ponies' event on sale now Philharmonic honors America with latest Pops performance Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
