Court Ruling Expands Housing Access for Maryland Residents Who Use Vouchers
July 30, 2025/
The Supreme Court of Maryland has issued a ruling in Hare v. David S. Brown Enterprises, Ltd., concluding that certain housing policies violate the state’s Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME) Act. The Court determined that a housing provider’s requirement for tenants to earn at least two and a half times the monthly rent had a discriminatory impact on individuals using housing vouchers. The policy effectively excluded nearly 80% of voucher holders, even though the government pays a substantial portion of their rent directly to landlords. The ruling affirms that such income-based requirements unlawfully discriminate based on source of income, in violation of Maryland’s fair housing laws. Many of the affected voucher holders include families with children, people with disabilities, and seniors. The Office of the Attorney General expressed support for the Supreme Court’s decision, stating that it reinforces the prohibition of efforts to circumvent the anti-discrimination provisions of the HOME Act.
Posted in Court Ruling, Hare v. David S. Brown Enterprises, Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME) Act, Ltd., Maryland residents, Maryland’s fair housing laws, The Office of the Attorney General, The Supreme Court of Maryland, anti-discrimination provisions of the HOME Act, housing vouchers, unlawfully discriminate based on source of income