Rep. Peters & Sens. Schiff & Kaine Introduce Bill To Protect Veterans And Low-Income Families From Housing Discrimination

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Rep. Scott Peters (CA-50) and Senators Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) reintroduced the Fair Housing Improvement Act of 2025 to protect veterans and low-income families from housing discrimination. Over two million veterans and low-income households use Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV) to pay rent, but there are no federal protections to prevent individuals from being denied housing based on the source of their income. In 2018, Rep. Peters supported an ordinance passed by the City of San Diego to prohibit source of income discrimination. Many veterans and low-income families have reported discrimination from landlords when using vouchers to pay their rent. California and Virginia have since enacted legislation to prohibit discrimination based on source of income, and the lawmakers' legislation would expand that progress nationwide.

The Fair Housing Improvement Act of 2025 would expand protections by adding source of income and military and veteran status to the list of protected classes under the Fair Housing Act of 1968, giving more individuals and families access to affordable housing. It would prohibit landlords from denying housing to individuals who use Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8), HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) vouchers, benefits received through Social Security, income received by a court order, payment from a trust or guardian, or any other lawful source of income.

"In San Diego and across the country, there are too many stories of unnecessary loss and debilitating anxiety when looking for housing," said Rep. Peters. "No American should be denied housing because they're a veteran or receive government assistance, especially as we face a historic housing shortage and unacceptable levels of veteran homelessness. Our bill would make this type of deplorable discrimination illegal."

"The Fair Housing Act was signed into law more than 55 years ago, yet far too many still do not experience the protections it promised," said Renee M. Willis, President and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition. "'The Fair Housing Improvement Act,' reintroduced by Senator Tim Kaine and Representative Scott Peters, expands upon the 1968 law by prohibiting housing discrimination based on military status, veteran status, or "source of income." Through this Act, Kaine and Peters aim to create more opportunities to protect housing and service programs designed for veterans and low-income households, while also giving landlords the time needed to implement the law. I applaud Senator Kaine and Representative Peters for reintroducing this crucial legislation, and I urge Congress to enact this bill to help end housing discrimination."?

"Families that need and receive federal rental assistance should have the same ability as anyone else to rent a home of their choice that best meets their family's needs," San Diego Housing Commission President and CEO Lisa Jones said. "Too often, they don't. The Fair Housing Improvement Act is a crucial step to ensure these families are not denied a home just because of the help they receive."

"NALHFA commends Senator Kaine and Representative Peters for introducing the Fair Housing Improvement Act of 2025, which would serve as a critical step toward increasing access to affordable housing," said Jonathan Paine, Executive Director of the National Association of Local Housing Finance Agencies. "No individual, family or veteran should face discrimination simply because they rely on federal vouchers or other lawful sources of income to pay rent. Expanding these protections strengthens our communities and helps break down barriers to housing opportunity for those who need it most."

"Prohibiting source of income discrimination is vital to our collective efforts to foster integrated communities, increase economic mobility, and reduce homelessness," said Thomas Silverstein, Executive Director of the Poverty & Race Research Action Council. "The Fair Housing Improvement Act is a commonsense bill that will help move our society in a more just direction."

"Evidence shows that when families are unstably housed, there are not only severe consequences for child and caregiver physical and mental health, but these family-level consequences turn into enormous and avoidable economic costs to society for health care, special education services, and more " says Stephanie Ettinger de Cuba, executive director of Children's HealthWatch. "Every family deserves the chance to thrive, and that means ensuring that they can access high-quality, affordable homes in neighborhoods with economic opportunities without discrimination."

In 2023, fair housing complaints increased to over 34,000, with source of income discrimination complaints as the largest category of discrimination not explicitly protected under the Fair Housing Act. People of color, particularly Black women, are disproportionately impacted and more likely than any other group to be evicted or denied housing.

The following groups and organizations support this bill:

A Way Home America; American Academy of Pediatrics; American Association of Service Coordinators; Catholic Charities USA; Children's HealthWatch; Church World Service; Coalition on Human Needs; CSH; Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund; Housing Justice Center; Justice in Aging; Local Initiatives Support Coalition; Mobility Works; My Dog is My Home; National Alliance on Mental Illness; National Alliance to End Homelessness; National Association of Local Housing Finance Agencies; National Association of Social Workers; National CAPACD; National Coalition for the Homeless; National Community Development Association; National Domestic Violence Hotline; National Health Care for the Homeless Council; National Housing Law Project; National Low Income Housing Coalition; National NeighborWorks Association; National Network to End Domestic Violence; National Women's Law Center; Natural Resources Defense Council; New America's Higher Education Program; Opportunity Starts at Home Campaign; Paralyzed Veterans of America; Poverty & Race Research Action Council; San Diego Housing Commission; The American Institute of Architects; The Kelsey.

Full text of the bill is available here.

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