By Renata Cló | Arizona Republic
In the eight years that Danielle Witcher has lived in Arizona, she has relied on the housing choice voucher program, known as Section 8, and twice during this time, she has had to scramble to find a new place to live without much notice when two landlords changed their policies and would no longer accept vouchers.
Situations like Witcher’s are what recently adopted ordinances by Phoenix and Tucson aim to combat.
The two cities have voted to implement bans on landlords refusing to rent to a tenant based on their legal sources of income, such as government assistance programs like Section 8 or foster care subsidies.
In late April, another Arizona city – Glendale – agreed to start conversations about approving a similar ordinance. A city spokesperson said it will take some time until the City Council meets and considers the issue, but they believe it will happen sometime after the summer break.
Councilmember Bart Turner, who proposed the discussion, said there seems to be a need for similar ordinances in many communities across Arizona.
