CONCORD, NH- Today, Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee voted along party lines to recommend HB 1291 Inexpedient to Legislate, a bill that will prohibit housing discrimination to those holding housing vouchers. HB 1291 Prime Sponsor Rep. Cam Kenney (D-Durham) released the following statement:
“HB1291 would prohibit a blanket refusal to accept housing voucher holders but still allow landlords to apply the standard screening policies to every other applicant regardless of holding a housing voucher or not. Low-income families should be protected from discrimination in housing just as race, color, national origin, religion, sex, and other identities and classes are protected in state and federal law. It is incredibly disappointing that my colleagues across the aisle had little interest in assisting Granite Staters with housing needs.
“The Housing Choice Vouchers Program is the most extensive housing assistance program in New Hampshire for low-income tenants. The demand for vouchers is so high, applicants can be on a waiting list for 5 to 8 years. Yet, after waiting years for the voucher, many tenants lose their vouchers because they only have 90 days to secure housing, and they cannot find a landlord who will accept them in this short timeframe.”
###
Comments