Equal opportunity for a HOME

Today I traveled to Annapolis to advocate for the Housing Opportunities Made Equal Act SB 487.  I was part of an extensive panel of "experts" from various professions - folks who interact with those seeking equal access to rental properties who may be discriminated against based on their source of income.  I was part of the religious portion of the panel, but there were also representatives from various housing authorities and citizens advocacy groups as well as some individuals who had themselves faced discrimination when looking for an apartment.

The HOME act will eliminate source of income as a reason for a property owner (landlord) to turn away a potential renter.  There are several states that have this type of law in place already, as well as a few counties and municipalities within Maryland.  All reports is that it not only helps end discrimination, it can even have a positive impact on the community by reducing "poverty pockets", or areas of concentrated poverty ("Section 8 Lane", etc.)

Part of my written testimony, on behalf of the Baltimore Washington Conference's Board of Church and Society is below:

United Methodists in the Baltimore-Washington Conference have placed an emphasis on helping our unhoused neighbors gain access to permanent supportive housing.  This includes not only efforts to build such housing, but also efforts to advocate for more access to affordable housing both locally and at the state level.
According to United Methodist Social Principles, “We support the basic rights of all persons to equal access to housing.” (The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church 2012, Paragraph 162, Section III).  Furthermore, “We support social policies that integrate the aging into the life of the total community, including… adequate medical care and housing” (The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church 2012, Paragraph 162, section III, E) and “We call the Church and society to be sensitive to, and advocate for, programs of rehabilitation, services, employment, education, appropriate housing, and transportation… to protect the civil rights of persons with all types and kinds of disabilities” (The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church 2012, Paragraph 162, section III, I).

...

While Frederick, Howard and Montgomery counties, as well as the cities of Frederick and Annapolis already have laws prohibiting source of income discrimination, there are still many areas in Maryland where people can still be legally discriminated against because of their source of income. As a member of the clergy based in Calvert County and a member of the board of directors for the Community Ministries of Calvert County, an organization whose main goal is to prevent homelessness, I can attest to the number of people who have difficulty accessing affordable housing because of their source of income.
 As a Christian, I am called to love my neighbor and to care for “the least of these” (Matthew 19:19, 25:40).  If my neighbors are not able to obtain affordable housing because they are being discriminated against due to their source of income, then my whole community suffers.  If we discriminate against seniors, those with disabilities, single parents, veterans, and lower wage workers, then we ignore the plight of our neighbor.  To do so is morally unjustifiable.

 Please enact this legislation and help my neighbors and yours access affordable housing.  

My oral testimony was a much shorter version of the above (I was about the 10th person to testify, and the 3rd member of the clergy... so I was trying to avoid sounding repetitive).  I did also mention that one of the reason's I've heard landlords say they do not take vouchers is because they do not want "those people" renting their property.  I then pointed out that several of "those people" are members of my congregation, and that they were not only wonderful people... their rental income (social security, section 8, or veterans benefits) was more reliable than someone with a job who could lose their income at any time.  I was glad none of the Senators had any questions for me, because in the back of my mind I was thinking about the sequestration hullabaloo on the national level and how that might impact a large percentage of all people in my congregation (those employed and those on a fixed income). 

Praying for a solution that will help the poor, hold the rich to a standard where they care for their neighbor, and for all to have the humility to work together toward a more just and equitable society.