HB628

Discrimination of any type is wrong. People need places to live and if they have a voucher they should not be turned away.

I support this bill which will prohibit landlords from discriminating against prospective tenants holding certain vouchers under the housing choice voucher program. We are in the midst of a vicious housing crisis in New Hampshire. We have a system that provides vouchers for low income people so that they can find housing for their families. However, for the last few years, even those who have a voucher have faced huge problems finding an apartment because many landlords will not accept vouchers. The truth is, vouchers will provide a landlord with their standard rent, with consistent payment. Owning rental housing is both a business, and a community service which implies certain moral obligations. In this case, it implies accepting tenants with vouchers. Thank you for your attention to this.

I strongly support this bill. It is already very difficult for people of lower income to find housing. Increasing the protections and opportunities for people of lower income to find housing is one of many crucial steps to reducing homelessness. I think often of my mom who did a great job raising me, but now even though she works hard at her job, struggles to make enough money to afford rent. There are real, hardworking Americans who are struggling to find housing. We should do anything we can to help them.

Finding affordable housing is hard enough and landlords should not be allowed to discriminate based on how part of the rent is received.

It is extremely important that we recognize the contributions our public schools make to our community and show that support by increasing the per pupil cost from $4100 to $7356. This is long overdue.

It is extremely important that we recognize the contributions our public schools make to our community and show that support by increasing the per pupil cost from $4100 to $7356. This is long overdue.

It is extremely important that we recognize the contributions our public schools make to our community and show that support by increasing the per pupil cost from $4100 to $7356. This is long overdue.

People should not be penalized for needing help.

The system is working. Children should not be seduced into marriage before they are old enough to understand what it means.

Thank you, this bill shows MERCY to low wage and low wealth citizens, and that is what a healthy society should do.

Dear House Judiciary Committee members, I am opposed to bill HB476 that would further restrict abortion, reproductive healthcare, in New Hampshire. As you may know, 78% of New Hampshire citizens believe there should be a right to get an abortion, in every state of the U.S. Also, the great majority - I believe it is 68% - of us here in New Hampshire oppose a 15-week abortion ban. Therefore, your opposition to this bill would be representing the will of the people you represent. On a personal note, my niece was able to obtain an abortion after a rape that she would never have been able to prove, before Roe V. Wade was overturned. She went on to have to beautiful healthy boys. I believe all women and families should have that opportunity. Please oppose HB476 and support the health and welfare of New Hampshire families. Thank you for your service to the people of our State.

This bill is needed to fortify the purpose for which vouchers are issued!

Fair Housing practices are only right.

Honored Representatives -- I am writing in support of HB 628. I am part of the Greater Nashua Interfaith Housing Justice Group, a gathering of clergy in our area who have been working to increase affordable housing in our region in collaboration with local government, developers, and nonprofits. The housing choice voucher program is a key part of a strategy to help people live stable lives on low incomes, and to create and sustain good relationships between renters and landlords. There is no reason that landlords should feel a need to discriminate against those who pay with the assistance of vouchers, and no reason to think that landlords need extra protections in this scenario compared with any other rental agreement. Our communities should be doing as much as we can to support and encourage those with vouchers and their families. Their ability to secure housing is key to stable employment, education, and health, which benefits the renters as well as the community. And of course equity in the housing market is the right thing from an ethical point of view. Thank you and please support this bill.

It's important for people with vouchers to have a fair chance for housing. The system must not discriminate against those folding vouchers.

My testimony is as follows. I support Bill HB 628 and I ask that my legislators do the same. This bill is very important in ensuring that people who need housing and have a voucher to pay for it certainly could get it. My husband and I are in our late 60s and we support a disabled adult child after seven years. This one was able to receive a housing choice voucher. These vouchers cover the market price of an apartment which In Concord is about $1400 a month for a studio and a portion of it is covered by the person holding the voucher. For a single disabled person under 30 they get about $900 and change a month from SSA and SSI together. The only way they can stay housed is because of the housing voucher. Finding housing for disabled loved ones is already extremely difficult and requires many hours and months of work to find an apartment for disabled people with vouchers, and this amid a profound housing crisis made worse by lucrative air BB type rentals consuming many apartments.This bill would certainly make matter as much worse and cause more pain and suffering to the families who have disabled family members who rely on these housing vouchers to be able to be housed. People with disabilities who don’t drive especially need to be able to be with disabilities especially need to be able to be in apartments that are within walking distance, bus or wheelchair rolling distance of all the important things they need, to avoid isolation, and their natural supports, in desirable locations. These housing vouchers are very important because all the rest of it falls to the family of people who are disabled,( no matter what their age) who are living on under 250 dollars a week for everything, from Social Security, I urge the committee to support HB 628. The housing voucher program is very dependable as far as the rent being distributed. It is a good program and we depend on it. We don’t know what we would do without it.

Preventing discrimination in housing access is an important role for government. This bill stands out as a promising constructive response to people's housing problems in our state. Those in need of affordable housing need such protection.

Housing vouchers are the next level after Sect. 8 because NH has failed to adequately regulate the housing industry and development interests in this state. It is a clear sign fair housing will not fix itself.. support this bill.

Individuals with low-income should not be discriminated against in the housing market when they are a prospective tenant. Please support this bill.

There should be a higher age limit to marriage. Age 18 should be the minimum

Voucher holders should not be prevented from accessing housing because they get help with paying market rate rent. Payments for the subsidized portion of the rent are guaranteed and consistent and voucher holders are less likely to miss rental payments if their income fluctuates because housing authorities adjust the subsidized portion based on income changes. Tenants in NH need protection from discrimination based on participation in a housing voucher program so they can get a fair chance at housing of their choice.