Section 8 and Lawful Sources of Income

As a Realtor and Property Manager for Tommy Tucker Realty Co., we consider all lawful sources of income from customers in the application process for houses we operate for rent. Not all properties or property owners are suited for use of Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program. In talking to a prospective customer (applicant) today, we discovered that the property they seeked was above the price guidelines for the prospective tenant's voucher.

City to Offer Free Section 8 Landlord Orientation Sessions

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – January 25, 2012 – The City of Cedar Rapids Housing Services/Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program will be offering free landlord orientation sessions for all landlords, leasing agents, rental managers and maintenance personnel.

The two hour presentation will include an overview of the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program, tenant demographics, common forms and leases, evictions/program violations, and Section 8 inspections and common repairs.
Individuals can register to attend one of the four sessions scheduled for the following dates:

• Wednesday, February 8, 2012 from 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.


• Wednesday, May 2, 2012 from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.


• Wednesday, August 8, 2012 from 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.


• Wednesday, November 7, 2012 from 5:00 p.m. -7:00 p.m.
  

The February 8 and May 2 sessions will be held at the Housing Services Office Conference Room, located at 1211 6Th Street SW. Locations for the August 8 and November 7 sessions are yet to be determined. Future updates and more information can be found at the following website under Landlord Resources:

www.cedar-rapids.org/government/departments/community-development/section8rentassistance. To find out more the Section 8 landlord orientation sessions, please contact Jim Borschel at (319) 286-5181 or j.borschel@cedar-rapids.org.

Happy President's Day: Government Affairs and Realtor Bus-In to Capitol Hill in Des Moines highlight the start of the week

Our Government Affairs committee as part of the Cedar Rapids Area Association of Realtors met with Len Sandler, with the University of Iowa and with four law students to discuss the recommended changes in Chapter 69 of the municipal code of Cedar Rapids.

The main discussion was on adding Lawful Source of Income to the Civil Rights Protections in Cedar Rapids, in the areas of protection for Housing. The Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission is recommended updated protections in the area of Familial Status, Gender Identity, Marital Status, Mental Disability, Association, Retaliation, as well as Lawful Sources of Income.

Realtors from all across the State of Iowa will bus-in to Des Moines on Tuesday to visit with State Legislators, as well as a visit with other members of State Government. This is our annual bus-in for 2011.

At Noon on Monday, Ted Townsend & Richard Pankey presented a Cedar Rapids Medical District Update to members of the Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids. Robin Tucker is a third generation Rotarian, with the Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids. Both his grandfather and father were members. His father, Tommy, is still an active Rotarian for over 45 years now. Robin joined Rotary in 1989.

At Rotary, the news mentioned that the City of Cedar Rapids has determined the language and breakdown for the proposed extension of the Local Option Sales Tax for 20 years through 2034. The Council will tackle the proposal and likely move it for a May 3Rd public measure at Tuesday's City Council meeting.

On Tuesday, the City Council will also have a public hearing on the Fiscal Year 2012 City Budget, as well as the ten year Capital Improvement Budget. The City Council regularly meets twice a month in Cedar Rapids.

We currently have houses for rent in Cedar Rapids, as well as houses for sale in the greater Cedar Rapids area. Are you looking for something in 2011? Please contact us, if we can be of assistance for your property management and real estate brokerage needs.

ttrco

January 10-11, 2011: New Chapter 69 Ordinance Focus Groups by trhe Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission

The City of Cedar Rapids, though the Civil Rights Commission is seeking to make changes to Chapter 69.

Here's information on the upcoming New Ordinance Focus Groups for Monday and Tuesday in Cedar Rapids ...

In order to foster a more inclusive community, the Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission has proposed ordinance changes that will add gender identity, retaliation, and lawful source of income as protected classes, extend across-the-board coverage for all other protected classes, provide changes in the area of public accommodation that adhere to ADA standards, extend the time to file to 300 days for complaints in the areas of employment, education, credit, and public accommodation, and extend the time to file to a year for complaints in the area of housing. The changes will go before the City Council for approval, and if approved, will take effect April.

Public Forums will be held the week of January 10Th to discuss these changes with the public. The dates, times, and changes discussed are listed below.

JANUARY 10, 2011 - CEDAR RAPIDS PUBLIC LIBRARY,

SENDAK ROOM, WESTDALE MALL

6:00-7:00pm, Familial/Marital Status

The proposed changes will extend across-the-board protection in the areas of housing, employment, education, credit, and public accommodation.

7:15-8:15pm, Gender Identity

The proposed changes will add gender identity as a protected class in the areas of housing, employment, education, public accommodation, and credit. The changes define gender identity as actual or perceived gender-related identity, expression, appearance, behavior,
or other attributes regardless of the person’s assigned sex at birth.

JANUARY 11, 2011 - ST. PAUL’S UNITED METHODIST CHURCH,

SOCIAL HALL, 1340 3RD AVE. SE

5:30-6:30pm, Lawful Source of Income

The proposed changes will add lawful source of income as a protected class in the area of housing. The changes define lawful source of income as any lawful, verifiable source of money paid directly or indirectly to or on behalf of a renter or buyer of housing, including income derived from: 1) any lawful profession or occupation; 2) any government or private assistance, subsidy, voucher, grant, or loan program.

7:00-8:00pm, Design/Construction Requirements in Public Accommodation

The proposed ordinance changes will hold designers and/or builders responsible for meeting ADA requirements in multifamily dwellings and public accommodations from the date a certificate of occupancy is issued until compliance is achieved.

All sessions are free and open to the public.

We encourage the community to attend these sessions to learn more about this public policy proposal and changes to our community Chapter 69 ordinance.

ttrco

City of Cedar Rapids wants to expand Protected Classes in Chapter 69, including lawful sources of income

There was an article today in The Gazette on upcoming community open houses on proposed changes in Chapter 69 municipal code for the City of Cedar Rapids. Chapter 69 deals with Civil Rights in our community. I was happy to see that Rick Smith from The Gazette reported on the upcoming public discussion on Chapter 69.

Robin Tucker, a local Realtor and businessman, this week said the
proposed ordinance change related to housing vouchers does rub some landlords
the wrong way.

“What if I don’t want any more to do with government than
required, which is how some people look at it,” Tucker said. “Should landlords
be required to do business with government?”

Ordinance change would protect Section 8 housing applicants - The Gazette

Karl Cassell is executive director of the Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission, which is proposing a change to the city's civil rights ordinance that would prohibit housing discrimination based on the source of their income ...

New Ordinance Focus Groups will be hosted by the Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission on Monday, January 10Th and Tuesday, January 11Th. Different subjects will be presented each session.

• The city commission forum on Monday will be held from 6 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. at the Cedar Rapids Public Library’s location in Westdale Mall. Proposed ordinance changes related to marital status will be discussed first followed by those related to gender identity.


• The Tuesday forum will be held at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 1340 Third Ave. SE, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Proposed ordinance changes related to lawful sources of income will be discussed first followed by changes related to construction and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Want to read the latest newsletter from the Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission?

Tommy Tucker Realty Co. represents a variety of property owners, who are seeking to rent single family houses in our area. Our agency does not have an application fee and we will consider all legal sources of income. We encourage anyone seeking a rental to apply.

Our company founder, Realtor® Emeritus and President, I.L. 'Tommy' Tucker is a former member of the Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission. Tommy served on the initial civil rights committee that become the Cedar Rapids Civil Right Commission back in the 1960s under Mayor Robert M.L. Johnson. Tommy served as Commissioner in a variety of roles for 31 years.

ttrco