Davenport says AG’s office, Civil Rights Division will refocus on enforcing housing discrimination laws

Attorney General Jennifer Davenport on Tuesday announced that her office and the Division on Civil Rights will renew its focus on enforcing housing discrimination laws in the state.

She said the DCR is finalizing penalties against 14 housing providers that violated the Fair Chance in Housing Act, which protects from discrimination based on criminal history. She also announced they issued findings of 11 violations of the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination, which protects from discrimination based on one’s source of income.

“With the federal government backing away from enforcing our civil rights laws and combating housing discrimination, it is more important than ever that states lead the charge in addressing predatory practices,” Davenport said. “Today’s enforcement actions underscore our renewed commitment to expanding housing opportunity and taking on discriminatory practices that make housing less affordable.”

New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania also agreed on an amendment to a 2022 redlining settlement with Trident Mortgage LP; the agreement extends the settlement, even after the Trump administration terminated the consent order early.

“Many New Jerseyans rely on rental assistance programs like Section 8 to acquire affordable housing. Having a history with the criminal legal system cannot automatically bar you from having fair access to housing. And race should never be a determining factor of whether someone can get a mortgage,” said Yolanda N. Melville, the director of the Division on Civil Rights. “We are committed to enforcing the protections offered by our civil rights laws because safe, affordable housing is a necessity, not a privilege.”