Protection Against Source of Income Discrimination for California Section 8 Participants

The Fair Employment and Housing Act (codified at Cal. Government Code §12955) was amended in 1999 to add provisions prohibiting discrimination against persons based on source of income.  The new amendments became effective on January 1, 2000.  The legislative history underlying the new legislation (SB 1098), together with a reading of the statute, supports our conclusion that the provisions prohibiting source of income discrimination under FEHA apply to tenants and prospective tenants participating in the Section 8 voucher and certificate program.

This packet includes:

1.  Memorandum Regarding the California Source of Income Anti-Discrimination Statute
   and Its Applicability to Section 8 Voucher Tenants

2. Article Regarding the Application of California’s Source of Income Anti-Discrimination Statute
   to the Section 8 Tenant-Based Program

3. California Jurisdictions with laws prohibiting Section 8/housing subsidy discrimination against tenants

4. Section 8 Anti-Discrimination Statutes and Ordinances in Other States and Cities

5. Letter to all California Housing Authorities reminding them of the changes in the statute regarding the 90 day notice for termination of Section 8 voucher tenants and application of California’s source of income anti-discrimination statute

6. Other Resources/Information