The Austin City Council Thursday took the first big step toward outlawing discrimination against people using housing vouchers to pay their rent. Austin is the first city in Texas to do so, and opponents said that the ordinance would face both legal and legislative challenges. Council unanimously adopted the ordinance on first reading. However, on […]
Austin Apartment Association
local trade association comprised of groups that represent and the apartment rental industry. The Austin Apartment Association has donated to the Austin Monitor.
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
‘Source of income’ protection looming at Council
Austin City Council members appear to be nearing final debate over a code change that would bar housing discrimination based on a resident’s “source of income.” Indeed, a Sept. 10 memo from city human resources director Mark Washington to Council outlines staff’s suggested language for the potential change. Some herald the new language as a […]
Posted inDevelopment
Rights commission recommends source of income as protected class
After hearing stories from low-income residents about how they were vilified while trying to use housing vouchers, the Austin Human Rights Commission last night backed a recommendation to make it illegal for landlords to discriminate against people based on the source of their income. The vote followed an hour of public testimony and two previous […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
Council backs code amendment to require landlords to take vouchers
Austin City Council members Thursday initiated a code amendment process that could end in the approval of the inclusion of source of income as a protected class for the purposes of determining rental housing discrimination complaints. Staff is set to bring any proposed code amendment back to Council by Aug. 1. The action came […]