Senate Bill 349 Would Make It Easier to Discriminate in Housing
WASHINGTON, DC – A proposed bill in the Ohio Senate would make it easier for landlords and others to discriminate in housing and not to be held accountable for their actions. It would also cost the State at least $1 million in lost federal funding. Shanna L. Smith, President and CEO of the National Fair Housing Alliance, issued the following statement calling for the Ohio Senate to reject this radical measure:
“All people should have equal access to housing they can afford. Senate Bill 349 would replace Ohio’s long standing strong law with only a slap on the wrist for banks, real estate companies, landlords, and apartment owners who discriminate. Senate Bill 349 would weaken the ability of Ohio’s civil rights organizations and neighborhood groups to hold accountable those who discriminate against neighborhoods, people with disabilities, families with children, women, people of color, and many others.”
“In addition, this sweeping change would put Ohio’s fair housing law out of alignment with the federal statute that protects equality of opportunity for all Americans in housing. As a result, the State would lose at least $1 million in federal funds.
“In 2013 alone, Ohio fair housing organizations investigated more than 1,600 complaints of housing discrimination. This discrimination includes failures by banks to maintain foreclosed homes they own. As these neglected properties deteriorate, cities are forced to use tax payer dollars to fix damage and provide increased police and fire protection. Does the Ohio Senate really want to leave cities to clean up after bad banks without any recourse to recover those burdensome costs? Rather than making the banks clean up the mess they have made, this bill would shift the burden to the tax payer. The National Fair Housing Alliance urges Ohio lawmakers to side with Ohioans and hold companies that violate the law accountable for their acts of discrimination.”
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The National Fair Housing Alliance (www.nationalfairhousing.org)
Founded in 1988, the National Fair Housing Alliance is a consortium of more than 220 private, non-profit fair housing organizations, state and local civil rights agencies, and individuals from throughout the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the National Fair Housing Alliance, through comprehensive education, advocacy and enforcement programs, provides equal access to apartments, houses, mortgage loans and insurance policies for all residents in the nation.
