While The Fortune Society is proud to provide services, transformational programming and housing to thousands of justice-impacted New Yorkers, we continue to advocate for criminal legal reform that reduces discrimination against people with histories of justice involvement.  

Perhaps one of the most pronounced barriers to successful reentry comes from housing discrimination against those with legal system involvement. Nationwide, according to the Prison Policy Initiative, people who have been to prison once experience homelessness at a rate nearly seven times higher than the general public – that rate nearly doubles for people who have been incarcerated more than once. 

In New York City alone, nearly 750,000 people have a conviction record – almost 11% of the City’s adult population. Their inability to secure safe and affordable housing impacts not only their prospects of finding gainful employment and other opportunities for success but hurts their families and communities. 

Currently, there is no New York City policy that prevents landlords, real estate brokers and other housing providers from discriminating against people with conviction histories when they apply for housing. These housing providers have total discretion when it comes to performing a criminal background check on a candidate and ultimate application approval.  

However, legal system involvement is not an indication that a person will be a “bad” tenant.  

Rather, as noted by Fortune’s Housing Advocate, Tabber Benedict, “people with justice system involvement are really just so grateful when they have a roof over their head and a safe place to lay their head at night that they actually make really great neighbors. They are committed to paying their rent on time, to doing the small things they can to help others in their building.”  

While Tabber understands that there has been pushback against efforts to reduce housing discrimination against people with justice involvement, he challenges the opposition to reframe their perspective:

The Fortune Society will continue to fight to end housing discrimination against our fellow New Yorkers with legal system involvement, and we need your help!  

Here are 6 things you can do to help end housing discrimination in NYC:  

1. Support the Fair Chance for Housing Act: The Fair Chance for Housing Act is currently up for consideration in the New York City Council – and it is imperative that it is passed to give our participants a real opportunity to find safe, secure and affordable housing. The Fair Chance for Housing Act would make it an unlawful discriminatory practice for housing providers to do criminal background checks or inquire about arrest or conviction records at any stage in the housing application process. You can take action in support of the bill now by telling your elected officials that we need Fair Chance for Housing to pass before the end of the legislative session.
2. Learn the Stories of People Impacted by Housing Discrimination and Successful Tenants with Justice History: There are many success stories of people with justice system involvement making stellar tenants and neighbors. Meet a few Fortune community members and learn about how to access to housing changed their life in this video.
3. Know the Facts on Housing Discrimination: Much of the debate over ending housing discrimination includes myths about community safety. Make sure you know the facts on why ending housing discrimination matters for us all and how it will improve our communities and opportunities for collective public safety. 
4. Donate to The Fortune Society: Fortune will continue fighting housing discrimination in all of its forms, and we need your ongoing support as these projects press on. 
5. Provide Housing to Someone with Justice History: If you are a housing provider or landlord who is interested in offering housing to people with prior criminal legal system involvement or have tenants with this background, please get in touch with Fortune by emailing housingforall@fortunesociety.org for more information on how to support. You can also learn more about the benefits of housing people with this background from fellow housing providers. 
6. Subscribe to the Fortune Weekly: To stay up to date on Fortune news related to housing discrimination as well as additional opportunities to take action, please subscribe to our weekly newsletter, the Fortune Weekly.