Council briefed on Source of Income Discrimination Ordinance

The City’s Housing Committee has briefed the Dallas City Council on the benefits of approving an ordinance that would add Source of Income as a protected class in the City’s Fair Housing law.

Source of Income ordinances prohibit landlords from discriminating against tenants based on lawful source of income. Income sources include employer paycheck, child and spousal support, Social Security, disability, Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers and veteran’s benefits.

One option for Council consideration is to include all sources of income except federal housing assistance, in order to comply with state law. This option could include an exemption for military veterans receiving Housing Choice Vouchers, Veteran Affairs Supportive Housing Vouchers or other federal housing assistance.

State law also permits the City to encourage the acceptance of housing vouchers via incentives, contractual commitments, density bonuses, or other voluntary programs.