AG Platkin and the Division on Civil Rights (DCR) today announced that DCR has taken enforcement action in 20 cases alleging violations of the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination’s (LAD) prohibition against denying the opportunity to obtain housing because of a prospective tenant’s source of lawful income, such as government rental assistance. In 15 of these cases, DCR issued Findings of Probable Cause alleging discrimination based on source of lawful income.  In another five cases, DCR announced that they have finalized consent decrees with property owners, property managers, and real estate brokers, obtaining over $105,000 in relief from those respondents for alleged violations of the LAD.

“Every resident of our state deserves to have a safe, affordable place to live. We will always work to safeguard the right, enshrined in our civil rights laws, to obtain housing using government rental assistance. And with the federal government halting the work of key federal civil rights agencies, it’s more important than ever that we stand up against discrimination targeting our state’s residents. We made a commitment to hold accountable anyone who discriminates against potential renters seeking a quality, safe place to live. We’re backing up that commitment with the enforcement actions announced today.”- AG Platkin