Bill Information: House Bill 168 would prohibit Maryland landlords from discriminating against potential tenants, based on the source of their income.
Why This Is Important: Allowing low-income residents to move into areas with better transportation and/or job opportunities (such as Baltimore County, as one example) opens doors for financial security. Also, it prohibits landlords from discriminating against higher-income people — rental ads that say “Section 8 Only” would be against the law. Currently, certain areas in Baltimore City and Baltimore County have become areas of concentrated poverty — this bill could give these areas the opportunity to rebuild and revitalize, with a more diverse income base.
What You Should Do: Contact your Maryland legislators and ask them to support this important bill.
February 12th, 2012 at 10:20 pm
Since House Bill 168 would prohibit Maryland landlords from discriminating against potential tenants, far from being designed to “prohibit landlords from discriminating against higher-income people,” it would seem to be designed to prohibit landlords from discriminating against Section 8 subsidy recipients. It is heartwarming to learn that BALTIMORE SLUMLORD supports Section 8 subsidy recipients.
February 14th, 2012 at 10:02 pm
It prohibits discrimination based on income source. So yes, it would prohibit people from placing ads on Craigslist that say “SECTION 8 ONLY”.
February 20th, 2012 at 12:59 pm
But aren’t landlords practically required to discriminate against tenants whose income derives from drug sales and related activity?
February 20th, 2012 at 1:14 pm
Of course. The bill is to prohibit landlords from discriminating against voucher-holders, or conversely, non-voucher holders. Regardless of your source of income, you still have to show ability to pay — and therefore have to show proof of said ability.