CITY OF TUCSON TO HOLD PUBLIC MEETINGS THIS MONTH ON PROPOSED SOURCE OF INCOME ORDINANCE
Two public sessions will be held this month to hear about a proposed ordinance that would make it unlawful for property owners or managers to reject a rental application based on the applicant’s source of income.
The Source of Income Protection ordinance would offer a new layer of legal protection to residents whose income is derived from some form of assistance such as Housing Choice Voucher Program, Rapid Rehousing, and other federal, state, or local programs. Federal housing laws do not guarantee source of income protections. However, some cities and states have adopted source of income protection to blunt discriminatory rental practices and to enable more otherwise qualified families to secure affordable housing.
Upcoming Meetings
In-Person Meeting
Wednesday, August 10, 5:30 p.m.
Sentinel Building, 320 N Commerce Park Loop
Face masks will be required. There is limited in-person capacity.
Virtual Meeting
Tuesday, August 16, 5:30 p.m.
Online via Zoom
The ordinance, if approved by the Mayor and Council, would amend the City Code to prohibit discrimination based on source of income. It reads:
“Source of income means any lawful source of income or support that provides funds to or on behalf of a renter or buyer of housing and is verifiable as to amount, regularity, receipt, and length of time received or to be received, including, but not limited to, wages, salaries, child support, spousal support, foster care subsidies, rental assistance, security deposit or down payment assistance, income derived from social security or disability insurance, veterans’ benefits, or any other form of governmental assistance, benefit, or subsidy. Source of income includes any requirement of any such program, assistance, benefit, or subsidy.”
The City is seeking input on a draft Source of Income Protection ordinance through the online survey which can be found below.
The Source of Income Protection is part of a 10-point initiative included in the Housing Affordability Strategy for Tucson (HAST) plan which the Mayor and Council approved last year. This comprehensive affordable housing plan focuses on specific actions the City can take to support the preservation and construction of housing units.
Visit our landing page to review the draft ordinance, learn more about Source of Income Protection, take the survey, and register for events.
For a comprehensive look at what we are doing to encourage more affordable housing in our community, visit City of Tucson's Housing Affordability Strategy for Tucson (HAST) page by clicking the button below.
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