Omnibus omits Section 8 tenant protection

During the crafting of the transportation, labor and housing omnibus supplemental budget bill this week, a policy was voted out of the bill that would have protected tenants who use Section 8 housing vouchers from discrimination by landlords, as the policy lacked support from a DFL senator, according to the representative who chairs the House’s housing committee.

Rep. Michael Howard, a DFL legislator from Richfield, directly attributed the removal of the policy to Sen. Ron Latz, of St. Louis Park, who threatened to withhold his support for the omnibus bill if the policy remained.

The policy was posed as a source-of-income protection and would have added section 8 housing vouchers the nation’s largest rental housing program as a form of public assistance in Minnesota. In turn, it would bar landlords from discriminating against applicants who utilize the federal assistance. National studies show that voucher users find that the program sometimes limits their options because landlords aren’t always compelled to accept the program as payment.

There are other states that do prohibit section 8 discrimination, such as North Dakota. Cities also have passed similar policies, such as Minneapolis.

“I think it’s important for the public to know the reason this bill is not moving forward is that Senate Judiciary Chair Sen. Latz, has informed us that he would vote against this entire transportation, housing and labor bill if this provision is in our bill,” Howard said at the Tuesday meeting of the conference committee.

Howard said the action by Latz was “disappointing” but that the group couldn’t “In good conscious” put the entire bill at risk. Other conference committee members echoed their frustration.

The amendment removing the policy passed on a voice vote.

Copyright © 2024 BridgeTower Media. All Rights Reserved.