Michigan Municipality Gets Tagged w/ Fair Housing Complaint For Passing Ordinance Banning Tenants' Use Of Gov't Housing Subsidies (ie. Section 8, etc) In Newly-Constructed Residential Complexes

In Ypsilanti, Michigan, National Public Radio-affiliate Michigan Radio reports:

• The Fair Housing Center of Southeast and Mid Michigan has filed a discrimination complaint with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development against Ypsilanti Township. The complaint relates to an ordinance the township passed last year banning government subsidies in a new development. That would exclude tenants with Section 8 vouchers. It is the first time a Michigan municipality has attempted to ban subsidized housing.
  
  Pam Kisch, Director of the Fair Housing Center, says the ban violates the U.S. Fair Housing Act. "It has what's called a disparate impact on people who either have Section 8 vouchers or are on a waiting list for Section 8 vouchers."
  
  The township has asked for more time to respond to the complaint. Kisch says that the desired outcome of the ban is, "First and foremost, the ordinance has to be repealed." She also hopes that the township will meet with representatives from the Fair Housing Center to discuss further changes to correct discriminatory housing practices.

Source: Fair housing complaint filed against Ypsilanti Township.

For a follow-up story, see Justice Department investigating Ypsilanti Township over section 8 housing discrimination (The Justice Department is investigating Ypsilanti Township over alleged housing discriminations stemming from rules the township put in place to limit Section 8 and rental housing. Last July, the township developed a first-of-its-kind plan to ban section 8 housing and limit rentals in new subdivisions). zoning land use