TITLE
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF GAHANNA, ENACTING CHAPTERS 790, 791 AND 792 TO CREATE A FAIR HOUSING BOARD, TO ESTABLISH HOUSING NONDISCRIMINATION LAWS, AND TO CODIFY AN AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EVICTION COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS PAY TO STAY
BODY
WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Gahanna seeks to provide appropriate protection for all citizens and their right to housing opportunities; and
WHEREAS, any person, irrespective of their race, color, creed, national origin, disability, age, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, or other protected status should have fair access to housing in the City of Gahanna; and
WHEREAS, all persons who receive financial assistance, housing vouchers, or other support for the payment of housing costs should have fair access to housing in the City of Gahanna; and
WHEREAS, veterans, people with disabilities, retired people, parents of children, and others who receive income from non-employment sources such as public or private benefits, child or spousal support, or other forms of verified and substantiated income should be protected from discrimination when seeking housing solely on the basis of their source of income; and
WHEREAS, landlords who own rental property in the City of Gahanna will retain rights to apply appropriate screening criteria regarding ability to meet financial obligations, tenant history, credit scores and other factors, the rights to evict tenants who have violated their lease agreements, and the rights to determine tenancy based on safety and other factors; and
WHEREAS, regional housing strategy requires communities including the City of Gahanna to take a proactive approach to ensuring protections for our residents, to establish a foundation of equitable and fair treatment, and to set policy to ensure prosperity and success for all our neighbors; and
WHEREAS, source of income nondiscrimination is needed as a forward-thinking measure to address equity in housing, to...
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