Earlier this month, Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski, Jr. signed the HOME Act into law, ending a years-long dispute about equity and affordable housing in the County. The law says that landlords cannot refuse to rent to a potential tenant based on a person’s source of income, which means, for example, if a tenant wants to use a government housing voucher to help her rent, the landlord can’t refuse her.
Baltimore County now joins Baltimore City, Anne Arundel, Montgomery, Howard and Frederick Counties in prohibiting discrimination based on source of income. The legislation, introduced by Olszewski, is part of a legal mandate in what’s known as the Voluntary Compliance Agreement with the federal government, arising from discrimination complaints about the County’s housing and zoning policies that were brought against the County in 2011.
Joining Tom to explain what it means for tenants and landlords are John Lee, who covers Baltimore County for WYPR, Baltimore County Council member Julian Jones and Ben Frederick, III, the president of Ben Frederick Realty.
Happy 110th Birthday!
Also, during today's program, Tom wishes a very Happy Birthday to Bessie Elizabeth Harding.
She lives here in Baltimore at the Keswick care facility in Roland Park. And today is her 110th birthday
According to a press release from the Mayor’s office: When Ms. Harding was born, in 1909, the New York Times published the world’s first movie review, the NAACP was founded and a postage stamp cost two cents.
Happy Birthday to Miss Bessie, and Happy Thanksgiving.
We livestreamed this conversation on the WYPR Facebook page. To watch that video, click here.
