NEW YORK: A law center has urged housing providers to stop asking the homeless for up front rent payments when they are offered a property.
Many now demand large sums of money in advance.
Private landlords already ask potential tenants to pay up front for the first month but housing providers which receive significant public subsidy, enjoy charitable status and numerous statutory powers should not be permitted to do the same.
Social landlords enjoy a privileged position to ensure that the most vulnerable and less advantaged in our society are treated justly and fairly.
Demanding advance rent from homeless households is at odds with the ethos and role of social landlords.
More worryingly, it undermines prevention of homelessness and financial inclusion strategies…