TOWSON, Md. — Legislation was introduced on Friday by Baltimore County Johnny Olszewski which makes it illegal for landlords to refuse to rent to someone based on their source of income.
This includes tenants who want to use a federal housing voucher or other forms of public assistance, just like Sharonda Ellerby.
She became a single mother at 14 and needed help paying for a place to live, but hit a road block in her search years ago.
"It took me about 3 to 4 months to find a place," Ellerby said. "Every place that I called and said I had Section 8, I would try to convince them that it was good money. It's steady money. No. No Section 8, No Section 8."
Ellerby said that if the home act was in place when she was on Section 8, she would have gotten the house she wanted, but she's grateful for the apartment she did get.
The home act will be introduced to the Baltimore City Council on Monday.
Anne Arundel County and Baltimore City passed similar legislation earlier this year.
Montgomery, Howard and Frederick Counties already have laws prohibiting discrimination based on source of income.
