NYS law protecting people who pay rent with vouchers is struck down

A New York State law that protects people who use public assistance money to pay their rent has been struck down. The landmark state law banned discrimination against people who use housing vouchers to pay their rent, a major blow to low-income renters. A five judge panel from upstate ruled that the law prohibiting source of income discrimination against tenants who use federal vouchers violates the constitutional rights of property owners because the program requires building safety inspections. The decision stems from a 2022 lawsuit that Attorney General Letitia James filed against a prominent Ithaca landlord after two tenants reported being denied apartments because they used Section 8 vouchers to pay rent.