\n\n“\u201cNo Section 8 accepted.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s a familiar refrain to low-income renters searching for a place to live. The four-word phrase signals one of the last (mostly) legal forms of overt housing discrimination. Commonly referred to as \u201csource-of-income discrimination,\u201d landlords across the nation often refuse to accept tenants who attempt to pay rent with help from the federal government\u2019s Section 8 housing voucher program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) has put the nearly 40,000 Section 8 recipients in her state in jeopardy of getting those notices by signing a new law<\/a> that ensures cities and counties can no longer protect their residents from this subtle form of discrimination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Section 8 housing is the government\u2019s largest low-income rental assistance program. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities<\/a>, 5.2 million people nationwide receive vouchers from the program that cover some portion of their rent. The program is chronically underfunded, so only 1 in 5 households that are eligible to receive assistance actually do”<\/p>\n\n\n\n …<\/p>\n\n\n\n “There\u2019s a lot of evidence that Section 8 vouchers reduce homelessness and alleviate poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In her reporting for Vox, Stephanie Wykstra highlighted studies<\/a> showing that \u201chousing vouchers help prevent homelessness<\/a> and increase<\/a> long-term health and economic outcomes of children in low-income families.\u201d And Vox\u2019s Dylan Matthews covered a fascinating study<\/a> that showed how (with help) some housing voucher recipients were able to find housing in high-opportunity neighborhoods, where children have significantly better chances at a prosperous future.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n …<\/p>\n\n\n\n “There is evidence that landlords have valid (nondiscriminatory) reasons for not wanting to participate in Section 8 housing \u2014 working with the government to make sure your property fits the requirements can be onerous and frustrating<\/a>. Landlords may have difficulty getting rents paid <\/a>on time by the local public housing authority and often the unit inspections can be an inefficient and arduous process.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n