Dear Editor:
New Jersey Community Affairs Commissioner Jane M. Kenny has launched a fair housing campaign to see that more people know about and follow New Jersey’s laws against housing discrimination.
"Housing discrimination, whether subtle or obvious, is illegal," said Commissioner Kenny. "There’s no place for housing discrimination in New Jersey."
DCA’s fair housing initiative is funded by a $195,000 grant from the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Kenny said that DCA will publicize a toll-free number, 1-800-390-4845, that people can call for information about New Jersey’s laws against discrimination. DCA is also producing a brochure in English and Spanish that describes the laws and the process for filing a complaint.
The Department will also be airing a public service announcement reminding people that it is against the law to refuse to rent or sell housing based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, family status or disability.
In addition, the department will be hosting workshops geared to landlords and property managers about the law, and ways to ensure equal opportunity.
"We want people to know their rights, and to know that their rights will be enforced," Commissioner Kenny said.
DCA’s website, www.state.nj.us/dca, offers additional resources on the rights of tenants. A free DCA publication called "Truth-in-Renting" is available that describes responsibilities of residential landlords and tenants. Another publication, "Tenants Rights in New Jersey," written by Legal Services of New Jersey, covers a broad range of rental issues such as finding a place to live, security deposits, leases, rent increases, the responsibilities of landlords and tenants and the right to safe and decent housing. It is also available through DCA’s website.
Housing discrimination complaints in New Jersey can be carried out by the state Department of Law and Public Safety, as well as by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. Information about the complaint process and contact numbers for those two agencies can also be obtained by calling DCA’s toll-free number.
John Patella
Senior Policy Advisor
NJ Dept. of Community Affairs