Safe and affordable housing should be a right, not a luxury. Mayor Derek Dobies of Jackson, Michigan has introduced a Fair Chance Housing Ordinance that, if approved, will prevent landlords from discriminating against individuals with a criminal record. This would be a policy that several other cities have already adopted and benefitted from.
Landlords and rental management companies have a history of denying housing to individuals with criminal records, regardless of circumstance. City Councilman Will Forgrave refers to the ordinance as ‘common sense,’ being that background checks will still be permitted. The new policy would only prevent landlords from denying housing to those with minor and outdated offenses, an ideal that every city should promote and stand by.
The tendency to refuse housing to anyone with a criminal history is cruel and unreasonable. We have allowed property owners and other people of authority to strip opportunities and rights away from peaceful, nonviolent citizens for decades. By regulating the power of people with certain housing controls, landlords will no longer be able to decide whether or not a person is worthy of safe housing and a fresh start. This new inclusivity will allow people with previous arrests and convictions to move forward and feel safe and secure, an inalienable right that every person should have.
You deserve a fair chance at safe and affordable housing. If your criminal record is standing in the way, visit EasyExpunctions.com or give us a call at (877) 959-4083.
