Remove barriers to housing

It already is illegal to discriminate against a housing applicant because of a person's age, race, color, creed, religion, mental or physical disability, gender, national origin or sexual orientation.

But it's perfectly legal to discriminate against would-be renters based on where their rent money is coming from.

Local civil rights advocates are right in pointing out that it's not ethically or morally acceptable to discriminate against would-be renters because they receive housing assistance or other subsidy.

They're right to ask city leaders to pass an ordinance prohibiting housing discrimination based on a person's source of income.

City leaders should listen to their concerns and carefully consider their request.

An adequate supply of safe, affordable housing is a critical part of our local social safety net. But especially after the 2008 flood, affordable homes can be hard to come by in the Cedar Rapids area.

That scarcity is exacerbated by a “not in my backyard” attitude, that can make it even more difficult for Cedar Rapids households to find appropriate shelter.

When property owners refuse housing to applicants based unfounded fears and stereotypes about financial and housing assistance, it's discrimination, plain and simple. And it's creating in unnecessary barriers for too many Cedar Rapids households.

Members of the Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission are asking for an ordinance change that would make it unlawful to discriminate against people seeking housing based on their income coming from alimony, Social Security, workers' compensation, Section 8 vouchers and other types of income or subsidies. This is a good idea.

Local ordinances in Cedar Rapids already prohibit discrimination over and above the groups who are protected by state and federal law.

It's illegal, for example, in Cedar Rapids to deny a person housing based on that person's familial status.

Extending protection to people who receive housing or other financial assistance is another logical step toward housing equity. It will help open up much-needed housing options and help avoid the heavy concentrations of low-income housing in some Cedar Rapids neighborhoods.

Already, the idea has gotten the support of at least one national fair housing leader.

John Trasviña, assistant secretary of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, applauded the Civil Rights Commission's proposal last week when at the second annual Fair Housing Conference.

In his address to that conference, Trasviña stressed the importance of locally identifying and addressing barriers to housing - Washington can't do it alone, he said.

The Civil Rights Commission's proposal is a good, local step that would help ensure everyone in Cedar Rapids has access to safe, affordable housing.