Share:
House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2025 - 2026
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | December 5, 2024 09:25 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative G. Roni Green and Rep. Tarik Khan, Rep. Andre D. Carroll, Rep. Joshua Siegel, Rep. Ismail Smith-Wade-El |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Ensuring Fair Chances in Housing |
| There is growing concern about the challenges formerly incarcerated people face once they return to their communities. One such challenge is the ability to find housing. Landlords across the country typically use criminal histories when screening tenants. While it is important for landlords to ensure residents’ safety, many landlords do not evaluate the unique circumstances of each applicant, leading to unfair denial of applications. Unfortunately, the United States is in the top five nations for incarceration rates, with one in three American adults possessing a criminal record. Housing instability has disastrous consequences—according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, formerly incarcerated people without stable housing are twice as likely to recidivate than those with stable housing. Unfairly denying people chances to obtain housing contributes to crime. That is why we are introducing legislation, modeled after the New Jersey Fair Chance in Housing Law, to prohibit landlords from discriminating against an applicant solely because of their criminal record. Our bill will ensure that individuals with minor offenses can find adequate housing while balancing landlords’ need to keep their residents safe. Please join us in co-sponsoring this legislation to ensure people have a fair shot at obtaining housing. |