Currently, landlords and property managers across Central Florida can legally discriminate against or refuse to accept tenants who use a housing voucher to help cover the cost of rent. That's true in most cities and counties across Florida, but in Orange County, that could change soon if a new local ordinance up for a public hearing later this month is approved by the board of county commissioners.
That ordinance, proposed as a "Tenant's Bill of Rights," would prohibit discrimination in housing based on a person's lawful source of income.
What does that mean?
According to a draft ordinance presented to county commissioners in November, "lawful source of income" is defined as income that comes from a lawful profession or job, any government or private assistance — such as rental assistance through the Housing Choice Vouchers program, Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing vouchers, Social Security and Supplemental Security Income — as well as a gift or inheritance, a pension or other retirement benefits, and miscellaneous income streams such as alimony or child support.
Right now, it's perfectly legal in Orange County and most cities and counties across Florida to refuse to rent to someone based on the fact that they plan to use any of these income streams to pay for housing in one of the least affordable places to live in the country. Unlike federally protected categories such as race, ethnicity or gender, protection against source of income discrimination is not listed...
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