The three statewide agencies concerned with fair housing rights in Vermont – the Fair Housing Project of CVOEO, the Vermont Human Rights Commission, and Vermont Legal Aid – were very pleased by the passage last legislative session of Act 48, which Governor Phil Scott signed into law on June 10, 2019. Act 48 is “An act relating to adopting protections against housing discrimination for victims of domestic and sexual violence.” This law took effect July 1, 2019.

The act makes amendments to Vermont’s fair housing laws, § 4503. Unfair Housing Practices, to make it unlawful for any person to refuse to sell or rent, or refuse to negotiate for the sale or rental of, or otherwise make unavailable or deny, a dwelling or other real estate to any person because of the race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, religious creed, color, national origin, or disability of a person, or because a person intends to occupy a dwelling with one or more minor children, or because a person is a recipient of public assistance, or because a person is a victim of abuse, sexual assault, or stalking.” (Emphasis added.)

The full act also includes new language related to rights to terminate rental agreements, safety measures, and confidentiality based on fear or imminent harm to any protected tenant due to abuse, sexual assault, or stalking and a slew of amendments and addition to various state statutes, including updates to the rental housing safety policies; recommendations for the design and implementation of a comprehensive system for the professional enforcement of state rental housing health and safety laws; and the recommendation report for financing affordable housing (in lieu of a new housing bond).

“Many advocates for victims of domestic abuse, sexual assault, and stalking, as well as advocates focused largely on fair housing issues, have been pushing for more legal protections for these victims for years,” said Former Fair Housing Project Director Ted Wimpey. This last Vermont legislative session finally came through with some good law in this area.”

The Fair Housing Project provides fair housing education and training, referrals, and its Thriving Communities campaign is a statewide collaboration of municipal, housing, planning, and advocacy organizations committed to raising awareness about the economic and social benefits of affordable, inclusive housing.

The Vermont Human Rights Commission provides conciliation/mediation services, information and referrals, and public education, enforces fair housing and other laws, and advances effective human rights public policies. Human Rights Commission Executive Director Bor Yang said: “The majority of domestic violence victims are women.  Women and children who have been abused will no-longer be subjected to the trauma of an eviction, homelessness and changes in their schools and jobs because of where they live.  Extending the list of protected classes to victims of domestic and sexual violence stops the punishment of victims and their children and keeps them safe in their communities.”

The Housing Discrimination Law Project of Vermont Legal Aid represents individuals and organizations in court and before state agencies, housing authorities, municipal governments and the legislature; provides legal advice and limited legal services to people who believe they may have been discriminated against; and conducts housing discrimination investigations and fair housing education and training. “Victims of domestic and sexual abuse often find themselves to additional victimization through discrimination where they live and when they try to find a new home. This new law gives victims protections they need to be safe at home and move on with their lives” said HDLP’s Director, Rachel Batterson.

The shared goal of these three statewide organizations is to eradicate illegal housing discrimination in Vermont and to promote fair housing choice and diverse communities.

Here’s a link to the text of the Act: https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2020/Docs/ACTS/ACT048/ACT048%20As%20Enacted.pdf