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Syracuse proposal would make it illegal to deny renters housing based on source of income

Tom Magnarelli
/
WRVO News
Syracuse Councilor-at-Large Jean Kessner.

The Syracuse Common Council is considering a proposal that would make it illegal to deny housing based on a person’s source of income. Currently, a renter can be turned away if they are using Section 8 or public assistance.

If you are looking for apartments or houses to rent in Syracuse on Craigslist.org, it will not take long to find listings that say no public assistance and no Section 8. Councilor-at-large Jean Kessner said she wants to see that changed.

“We have a real problem trying to place people in suitable housing, so how do you make more suitable housing available?” Kessner asked. "People need places to live, the city needs suitable places for its families to live and that is what this is about."

Kessner said she wants to amend the law so a person cannot be denied a place to live based on their source of income. If that were to happen, a potential renter could take a landlord to court. Kessner said there is a dire need for good housing in the city, which she said is essential to raising healthy families.  She said she knows such an amendment does come with some controversy.

“We’ve already gotten a number of calls, people saying, ‘I’m a landlord and I will sell my properties if you do this,’" Kessner said. "There are a lot of strong feelings.”

Kessner said the Syracuse Common Council will hold committee meetings this week on the issue before drafting an amendment to the city's fair housing law.

Tom Magnarelli is a reporter covering the central New York and Syracuse area. He joined WRVO as a freelance reporter in 2012 while a student at Syracuse University and was hired full time in 2015. He has reported extensively on politics, education, arts and culture and other issues around central New York.