On January 1, 2025, the Fair Chance for Housing Act took effect in New York City, aiming to end housing discrimination against New Yorkers with previous convictions and give families impacted by the criminal legal system a fair opportunity to secure housing.    

For years, The Fortune Society has supported the Fair Chance for Housing Campaign as a member of the Fair Chance for Housing Coalition. We spoke with Reggie Chatman, the Director of Policy at the David Rothenberg Center for Public Policy (DRCPP), to reflect on the first year since the law went into effect.   

In 2025, DRCPP, along with other members of the Fair Chance for Housing Coalition, focused on educating community members and housing providers about the law and its impact. Throughout the year, Reggie led several training sessions to inform people of their rights. He also conducted a training session with housing providers, informing them of their responsibilities and the consequences of discriminating against individuals based on their conviction history. 

“Speaking with the landlords was encouraging, because I know that I am being firm and direct in letting them know what is expected of them,” Reggie said. “These are the types of training that need to continue.” 

Despite progress, challenges remain with enforcement and public awareness of the Fair Chance for Housing Act, largely due to insufficient funding for the New York City Commission for Human Rights (NYCCHR). Without this support, New Yorkers with criminal legal system involvement may continue to face housing discrimination.    

Without adequate funding, NYCCHR cannot effectively enforce the law or educate New Yorkers about its impact. As a result, housing discrimination continues to occur, seemingly in more covert ways.    

“A person may apply for an apartment and, as a result, there isn’t direct discrimination, but there are housing providers who just don’t respond to applications from people with previous convictions,” Reggie explained.  

Reggie shared that another consequence of this funding shortfall is the underreporting of housing discrimination. He noted a sharp decline in the number of reported housing discrimination complaints received last year, raising concerns among coalition members, including the legal service providers.

“We had fewer than 50 complaints, so that was an alarming number,” Reggie said. “We know that we have thousands of people who are not getting apartments. So, that was a big deal for us. The attorneys from these organizations are doing the work and have apprised us of this underreporting.”   

The Fair Chance for Housing Coalition continues to advocate for increased funding for the NYCCHR to ensure implementation of the Fair Chance for Housing Act. As part of this effort, DRCPP helped launch a “Know Your Rights” campaign, with signage posted at several subway stations. Reggie will also continue to advocate on behalf of the Fair Chance for Housing Coalition at upcoming budget hearings.    

Despite challenges in its first year, the Fair Chance for Housing Act remains essential. Continued advocacy is vital to ensure it delivers on its promise.