The far-left clique of progressive House Democrats often called the “Squad” need to block landlords from with the ability to view felony data when conducting background checks on potential tenants.
Two members of the Squad, Reps. Ayanna Pressley and Rashida Tlaib, plan to introduce laws on the subject later this month. The duo previewed the invoice throughout a listening to of the House Financial Services Committee final week.
“Safe, stable and affordable housing is a fundamental human right, including for the millions of people with a record,” mentioned Ms. Pressley, Massachusetts Democrat. “It’s time we remove the systemic obstacles that have exacerbated the prison-to-homelessness pipeline, perpetuated the cycle of mass incarceration, and denied housing to people who need it.”
The pending laws would prohibit a client reporting company from furnishing details about a person’s felony background to landlords as a part of a tenant screening course of. It additional would require landlords to speak in confidence to potential tenants why they have been denied housing.
Outside of tenant screening, the proposal additionally would require that client reporting companies exclude all felony data which might be seven years or older.
“We must prioritize restorative justice, lead with compassion, and recognize the human dignity of our neighbors as we work to dismantle the cycles of mass incarceration and housing discrimination,” mentioned Ms. Tlaib, Michigan Democrat. “This legislation will end the systemic barriers to stable housing [that] returning citizens face every day as they begin to rebuild their lives in our communities.”
The invoice is backed by 16 House Democrats, together with all eight members of the progressive Squad. Among these supporting the measure are Democratic Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, and Cori Bush of Missouri.
The proposal has no shot of turning into regulation, on condition that Republicans management the House. Progressive teams say, nonetheless, the invoice lays down a marker for the place they need to push the dialog on housing and felony justice.
“Reforms to tenant screening policies and practices are needed to ensure everyone has a stable, accessible, and affordable home,” mentioned Diane Yentel, the president of the National Low Income Housing Coalition.
Several cities and counties throughout the nation have already moved to ban landlords from denying people based mostly on a felony conviction. San Francisco handed such a regulation final yr and New York City is weighing doing the identical.
The push has coincided with a transfer to dam public housing companies from additionally weighing felony data. Last yr, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, signed laws blocking using a felony background verify on functions for the New York City Housing Authority.
Republicans say the push is endangering the security of on a regular basis residents.
“Last time I checked, criminals were not a protected class entitled to equal protection under the law,” mentioned New York City Councilwoman Inna Vernikov, a Republican.
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