SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — Thursday morning, CNY Housing hosted its first landlord training workshop in a string of events to address discrimination in housing.
It may be difficult to believe that in today’s day in age, landlords are still discriminating against their tenants, but CNY Housing Director of Community Engagement, Tysha Martin, says this is an ongoing issue they are trying to alleviate.
Martin recalled a recent discrimination case presented to the organization that was particularly alarming to her when a landlord attempted to evict a tenant that had converted her religion.
“ The young girl had given her rent check with a hijab on and he said that we’re not doing this here and tried to evict her,” said Martin.
Martin says that many discriminatory cases presented to CNY Housing are disability related.
“Folks (landlords) don’t know how to deal with folks with disabilities very well and they are frequently discriminated against,” said Martin.
Martin said recent cases have also included tenants with low English proficiency as well as a high number of previously incarcerated people that have run into housing inequity.
Martin said in many cases, these individuals are unaware they have been discriminated against. CNY Housing outreach programs aim to make tenants aware of how these situations can occur and their legal rights as a tenant, while simultaneously making landlords aware of their role and responsibilities within that realm.
“We teach tenants how to protect themselves and landlords how not to discriminate against tenants,” said Martin.
CNY Fair Housing attorneys will be hosting a free legal drop-in at Syracuse Northside Community Center on Thursday, July 28 from 9 A.M. to noon.
