IOWA CITY – The Iowa City Council is considering an amendment to its Human Rights Ordinance that would make participants in the Housing Choice Voucher Program – better known as Section 8 – a protected class under local fair housing laws. This would make it illegal for property owners to deny the application or screening on the basis of Section 8 vouchers as a source of income. The amendment passed its first reading unanimously.
The current ordinance includes protections for residents who use public assistance as a source of income, but does not specifically include Section 8 participants. While the Housing Authority points to a need for “fair and equal access to vacant rental units,” apartment owners and managers have voiced concerns about the amendment. The primary concern is the bureaucracy associated with entering that a separate federal contract is required of for owners who rent to Section 8 recipients, as the Housing Choice Voucher Program is run by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
At least one group of apartment owners has reached out to the Housing Authority and Humans Rights Commission to discuss alternative solutions. The ordinance is scheduled to take effect in June, provided it passes two additional readings before the Council.
Source: Iowa City Press-Citizen