The federal Fair Housing Act, administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), expressly protects persons from housing discrimination on seven different bases: race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, and familial status. As a HUD-certified Fair Housing Assistance Program, the County enforces the federal Fair Housing Act as part of its Fair Housing Program. Through the Fair Housing Program, the County also enforces the County's Human Rights Act, which protects persons from housing discrimination on the above-mentioned federally-recognized protected bases as well as on six additional bases: age, marital status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, pregnancy, and gender identity or expression.
Under this motion, the Office of the County Attorney, in coordination with OIAPS, would review the fair housing ordinances of other local jurisdictions, including Miami-Dade County and the City of Miami, to identify potential additional bases of protection from housing discrimination for inclusion within the County's Fair Housing Program. At a minimum, such additional bases would include a prohibition on discrimination based on military and veteran status, source of lawful income, and whether someone is a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking. Once the additional bases are identified, further direction will be provided to the Office of the County Attorney regarding which additional bases should be included in the proposed ordinance.
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