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Fair Chance at Housing Act of 2018

USA116th CongressHR-3685| House 
| Updated: 7/10/2019
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Democratic Representative

New York

Cosponsors (11)
Barbara Lee (Democratic)Raúl M. Grijalva (Democratic)Sheila Jackson Lee (Democratic)Ilhan Omar (Democratic)Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democratic)Bennie G. Thompson (Democratic)Earl Blumenauer (Democratic)Suzanne Bonamici (Democratic)Jesús G. "Chuy" García (Democratic)Rashida Tlaib (Democratic)Ayanna Pressley (Democratic)

Financial Services Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Fair Chance at Housing Act of 2018 This bill limits the authority of public housing agencies (PHAs) to deny or terminate federally assisted housing based on criminal conduct by the applicant or tenant. Specifically, PHAs may deny or terminate assistance based only on criminal conduct that threatens the health or safety of other tenants or the employees or owner of the PHA, excluding misdemeanors and certain other lesser criminal offenses. Furthermore, with respect to applicants, a denial may be based only on a felony conviction other than a conviction for a drug offense for which the individual served less than 10 years. Before denying or terminating assistance based on criminal conduct, a PHA must conduct an individualized review and consider specified factors, including evidence of rehabilitation. PHAs must also give the household an opportunity to remove the culpable member before proceeding with the denial or termination. Additionally, PHAs may not drug test applicants or tenants as a condition of assistance. Under current law, PHAs must deny, and may terminate, federally assisted housing upon a determination that any household member is illegally using a controlled substance. Current law also allows PHAs to take such actions if there is reasonable cause to believe that a household member's illegal use of a controlled substance or abuse of alcohol may interfere with the health, safety, or right to peaceful enjoyment of the premises by other residents. Further, tenants evicted on the basis of drug-related criminal activity are not eligible under current law for federally assisted housing for three years, unless the tenant successfully completes a rehabilitation program.
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Timeline
Jul 10, 2019

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 116-2076
Introduced in Senate
Jul 10, 2019
Introduced in House
Jul 10, 2019
Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
  • July 10, 2019

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 116-2076
    Introduced in Senate


  • July 10, 2019
    Introduced in House


  • July 10, 2019
    Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.

Housing and Community Development

Related Bills

  • S 116-2076: Fair Chance at Housing Act of 2019
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresAdvisory bodiesCriminal justice information and recordsDrug, alcohol, tobacco useEvidence and witnessesGovernment information and archivesHousing discriminationHousing industry and standardsLandlord and tenantLow- and moderate-income housingPublic housing

Fair Chance at Housing Act of 2018

USA116th CongressHR-3685| House 
| Updated: 7/10/2019
Fair Chance at Housing Act of 2018 This bill limits the authority of public housing agencies (PHAs) to deny or terminate federally assisted housing based on criminal conduct by the applicant or tenant. Specifically, PHAs may deny or terminate assistance based only on criminal conduct that threatens the health or safety of other tenants or the employees or owner of the PHA, excluding misdemeanors and certain other lesser criminal offenses. Furthermore, with respect to applicants, a denial may be based only on a felony conviction other than a conviction for a drug offense for which the individual served less than 10 years. Before denying or terminating assistance based on criminal conduct, a PHA must conduct an individualized review and consider specified factors, including evidence of rehabilitation. PHAs must also give the household an opportunity to remove the culpable member before proceeding with the denial or termination. Additionally, PHAs may not drug test applicants or tenants as a condition of assistance. Under current law, PHAs must deny, and may terminate, federally assisted housing upon a determination that any household member is illegally using a controlled substance. Current law also allows PHAs to take such actions if there is reasonable cause to believe that a household member's illegal use of a controlled substance or abuse of alcohol may interfere with the health, safety, or right to peaceful enjoyment of the premises by other residents. Further, tenants evicted on the basis of drug-related criminal activity are not eligible under current law for federally assisted housing for three years, unless the tenant successfully completes a rehabilitation program.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Jul 10, 2019

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 116-2076
Introduced in Senate
Jul 10, 2019
Introduced in House
Jul 10, 2019
Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
  • July 10, 2019

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 116-2076
    Introduced in Senate


  • July 10, 2019
    Introduced in House


  • July 10, 2019
    Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Democratic Representative

New York

Cosponsors (11)
Barbara Lee (Democratic)Raúl M. Grijalva (Democratic)Sheila Jackson Lee (Democratic)Ilhan Omar (Democratic)Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democratic)Bennie G. Thompson (Democratic)Earl Blumenauer (Democratic)Suzanne Bonamici (Democratic)Jesús G. "Chuy" García (Democratic)Rashida Tlaib (Democratic)Ayanna Pressley (Democratic)

Financial Services Committee

Housing and Community Development

Related Bills

  • S 116-2076: Fair Chance at Housing Act of 2019
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresAdvisory bodiesCriminal justice information and recordsDrug, alcohol, tobacco useEvidence and witnessesGovernment information and archivesHousing discriminationHousing industry and standardsLandlord and tenantLow- and moderate-income housingPublic housing