A proud member of the HOMES RI campaign, the Providence Human Relations Commission stands in strong support of House Bill 5137 alongside Mayor Elorza.
If passed, the bill would enact protections against source of income discrimination for renters across the State, and would especially serve to protect low-income renters in Providence–the city home to the highest number of voucher-assisted households in the state.
Source of income discrimination disproportionately affects tenants who are disabled, seniors, families with children, and low-income. It also reinforces racialized patterns of homelessness, poverty and housing segregation born from decades of federal housing policy that promoted practices such as redlining and racial steering, disenfranchising Black households in particular. The passage of H5137 would represent a meaningful step in creating protections for communities locked out of accessing safe and decent housing.
The Commission urges community members to attend HOMES RI’s 3/12 Advocacy Day, and to consider attending or testifying at the House Judiciary Committee’s hearing of H5137 on Tuesday, March 12th, 2019 at the rise of the House.
The Commission thanks Rep. Williams and co-sponsors for their leadership on this key issue.