NEW LAW: Cook County landlords cannot discriminate based on Section 8 participation

In a vote being celebrated by Tenant’s rights advocates, the Cook County Board of Commissioners voted yesterday to amend the Cook County Human Rights Ordinance to prohibit landlords from discriminating against tenants who are participating in Section 8 housing choice programs.  Like landlords in Chicago before them, Cook County landlords governed by the Human Rights Ordinance who reject a tenant based upon section 8 participation will be illegally discriminating based upon source of income.  To put it another way, Cook County landlords cannot deny a prospective just because they participate in the Section 8 program and those who do are committing a fair housing violation based upon source of income discrimination.  The new law becomes effective on August 8, 2013.  For an excellent FAQ on the changes, see the Illinois Association of Realtors.