As seen in Long Island Business News and Newsday:
Long Island Housing Services settled a Source of Income complaint against Baldwin Garden Apartments, Grand Associates Management, and two of their employees.
People who believe that they have experienced housing discrimination in Nassau or Suffolk Counties, can contact Long Island Housing Services, Inc. at 631-567-5111 ext. 375 . Hablamos Español 631-567-5111 Ext. 378 or info@lifairhousing.org
Housing Discrimination Investigation
In 2022, as part of the systemic investigation for potential source of income discrimination, Long Island Housing Services ’ testers posed as ordinary home seekers to document the treatment they experienced for LIHS to determine compliance with fair housing laws.
Long Island Housing Services conducted testing and investigation of Baldwin Garden Apartments in 2022. Evidence that testers with Housing Choice Section 8 vouchers were allegedly illegally told on multiple occasions that section 8 housing vouchers were not accepted and that they do not participate in programs for section 8. Specifically, the testers were told “we don’t participate in programs for section 8” And that “certain buildings they’ll participate in it, but we’re just not one of the one that are.”
Fair Housing Laws
Denial of the acceptance of section 8 housing vouchers may constitute source of income discrimination under New York State Human Rights Law.
New York State, Suffolk County, and Nassau County Human Rights Laws prohibit discrimination based on lawful source of income. Source of income discrimination occurs when a housing provider refuses to accept a lawful source of income, including, but not limited to, Supplemental Social Income (SSI), Social Security Disability (SSD), Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program, Nursing Home Transition and Diversion (NHTD) Housing Subsidy, Olmstead Housing Subsidy (OHS), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Medicaid Waiver program, or child support.
Reinforcing Fair Housing Rights
Long Island Housing Services negotiated the settlement agreement which included monetary damages of $15,000 to LIHS, and the Respondents would be required to adopt a non-discriminatory fair housing policy, display compliance with fair housing laws on their rental and lease forms;, displaying “Equal Housing Opportunity” poster and NYS Division of Human Rights regulatory poster; displaying the “Equal Housing Opportunity” logo,; adding Source of Income language to their website; and participate in fair housing training.
“As I have said before, Source of Income protections have been law in New York State for five years, and much longer in county law on Long Island,” said Ian Wilder, Long Island Housing Services Executive Director. “It is way past time for landlords to know to obey the law. And it is particularly upsetting that they are saying out loud reasons for a denial that are in violation of the law. We need our towns and villages to step up to require fair housing education for landlords similar to those we have for real estate agents and mortgage brokers.”
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Founded in 1969, Long Island Housing Services, Inc. is a private, nonprofit HUD-qualified Fair Housing Enforcement Organization and a federally certified Housing Counseling agency. Long Island Housing Services’ mission is the elimination of unlawful discrimination and promotion of decent and affordable housing through advocacy and education. (www.LIFairHousing.org)
Long Island Housing Services has been recognized by Long Island Press in 2023 as a “Real Estate Player” and for the last three years by City & State magazine as a “Long Island Power 100.” LIHS has also has Platinum status with Candid for its transparency.
The Fair Housing enforcement and advocacy work of LIHS is supported through grants from New York State Homes and Community Renewal.
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