LWVLL Supports the Lincoln for Fair Housing Coalition

The Lincoln for Fair Housing campaign to ban source-of-income discrimination for Lincoln renters is underway. The League of Women Voters Lincoln-Lancaster County has been an active member of the coalition that created the campaign for about one and a half years. The Lincoln for Fair Housing Coalition is comprised of 18 organizations, including Collective Impact, NeighborWorks Lincoln, YWCA, Nebraskans for Peace, the Clinton Neighborhood Organization and the League of Women Voters Lincoln.

Housing is unaffordable—which means it costs more than 1/3 of household income—for 44% of Lincolnites who rent at all income levels. More than 11,000 households are extremely cost-burdened by their rent, which means they are paying more than 50% of their income.

There are public assistance programs—such as Section 8 vouchers, Social Security, disability, and veteran benefits—that can play a critical role in filling the gap. Child support payments, other monetary or cash assistance from the government or nonprofits, and hourly wages are other methods to supplement rent payments.  All are subject to source-of-income discrimination.

Those programs can’t help when landlords refuse to rent to Lincolnites using them. In fact, nearly one in three voucher recipients must return their vouchers because they can’t find a landlord who accepts it. Source-of-income discrimination disproportionately hurts seniors, single mothers, people with disabilities, and Lincolnites of color.

Source-of-income discrimination results in housing instability; unaffordable, unsafe or inaccessible housing; or homelessness. Banning source-of-income discrimination has no effect on market rate housing, as any difference between the amount of the voucher and the amount of rent is the responsibility of the renter.

Source-of-income discrimination has been banned in 22 states and 128 cities and towns across the country resulting in the voucher failure rate reduced by 50%.

Lincoln for Fair Housing coalition is putting a measure on the May 2025 city ballot to end this practice. See petition signing events and more.

Circulate a Fair Housing for Lincoln petition. Contact Judy Kelly or Jean McGuire to get involved.

Lincoln For Fair Housing