News
Rallying for a fair chance for housing
Housing stability is a matter of public safety. People are most vulnerable after release and that is when they most especially need the stability of proper housing.
On Thursday, December 8, Osborne joined the Fair Chance for Housing Coalition to rally and offer testimony in support of the Fair Chance for Housing bill. The bill would prohibit housing discrimination on the basis of arrest records or criminal history.
In his testimony, Osborne Policy and Advocacy Manager Wendell Walters shared that “Housing stability is a matter of public safety. People are most vulnerable after release and that is when they most especially need the stability of proper housing.”
For the 750,000 New York City residents locked out of the housing market due to background checks, “other housing opportunities must be part of the reentry strategy, including creating greater access to public housing and preventing the private housing market from unfairly discriminating against those with a conviction history.” Walter noted that 80% of those with conviction histories are Black and brown, amounting to race-based exclusion.
Read the full testimony here: https://www.osborneny.org/assets/files/2022_12_8_Fair_Chance_for_Housing_Testimony.pdf
Check out coverage of the event below:
- CBS New York, New York City Council holds hearing on Fair Chance for Housing Act, which ends criminal background checks on renters, 12/8/2022.
- ABC 7 NY, NYC Council Committee holds hearing on bill ending tenant criminal background checks, 12/8/2022.
- Yahoo, Fair Chance for Housing Act up for hearing, 12/8/2022.
- CityLimits, Should NYC Landlords Be Allowed to Consider a Tenant’s Criminal Record? 12/8/2022.