The collateral consequences of a criminal history are never-ending, particularly when it comes to housing. Years after several of our staff and participants were released from incarceration, they continued to face discrimination with respect to housing. Unlike other States, there are no protections for people seeking housing in the State of New York. Yet we know that stable housing provides an individual with securing and maintaining employment, furthering their education, and managing their medication. In order to advocate for smart policy change, Exodus joined the Fair Chance for Housing Coalition. The coalition is comprised of people who have experienced housing discrimination, advocates, legal service organizations, and human service providers - all of whom believe that housing is a human right and that providing justice-impacted New Yorkers with equal access to safe and stable housing strengthens our communities. We host rallies, webinars, marches and events to share our narrative and promote the passage of new policy to protect justice-impacted New Yorkers rights.
The Coalition worked alongside Council Member Levin and other cosponsors to draft the Fair Chance for Housing Act (Intro #2047-2020), introduced into legislation in August 2020. This Act would prohibit housing discrimination in rentals, leases, subleases, or occupancy agreements in New York City, on the basis of arrest or conviction record. Landlords and real estate brokers would be prohibited from doing background checks or inquiring about arrest or conviction record information at any stage in the application process.
