People with criminal records can face an uphill battle in finding a place to live. Many landlords reject applicants with even minor criminal offenses. Now, the federal government is trying to change that. This month, housing officials said that blanket bans on tenants with criminal records likely violate housing discrimination laws. Landlords counter they’re trying to keep other tenants safe. We’ll explore what the new federal guidelines do and don’t say.
Guests
Bryan Greene– General Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Ken Szymanski– Executive Director of the Greater Charlotte Apartment Association, which represents landlords
Myra Clark– Executive Director, Center for Community Transitions, a Charlotte organization which helps ex-offenders find housing, employment and transition back into society