The practice or policy of housing discrimination against individuals
because of lawful source of income is a matter of public concern.
Such discrimination may deprive individuals of the opportunity to
maintain or establish residency in the housing accommodation of their
choice, or even in the community of their choice. The denial of equal
housing opportunity to residents of the Town or prospective residents
of the Town because of such discrimination may contribute to unequal
housing opportunities.
It is hereby declared to be the public policy of the Town of
Barrington to foster the equal housing opportunities of all individuals
in the Town in accordance with their fullest capacities and abilities,
regardless of their lawful source of income, and to safeguard their
right to be free from such discrimination in housing.
This article shall be deemed an exercise of the police power
and home rule authority of the said Town for the protection of public
welfare, prosperity, health and peace of its people.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
DISCRIMINATION
Includes any policy or practice which by design or effect
segregates, separates or has a disproportionate impact according to
lawful source of income.
HOUSING ACCOMMODATION
Includes any building or structure or portion thereof, or
any parcel of land, developed or undeveloped, which is occupied, or
intended, designed, or arranged to be occupied, or to be developed
for occupancy, as the home, residence, or commercial business of one
or more persons.
LAWFUL SOURCE OF INCOME
Refers to any income or earnings including income, benefit,
or subsidy derived from child support; alimony; Social Security; Supplemental
Security Income; and other federal, state, or local public assistance
program, including but not limited to medical or veterans assistance;
any federal, state, or local rental assistance or housing subsidy
program, including the federal Housing Choice Voucher Program authorized
by 42 U.S.C. § 1437; and any requirement associated with
such public assistance, rental assistance, or housing subsidy program,
federal Housing Choice Voucher Program authorized by 42 U.S.C. § 1437;
and any requirement associated with such public assistance, rental
assistance, or housing subsidy program.
Nothing in this article contained shall be construed in any
manner to prohibit or limit the exercise of the privilege of every
owner, lessee, sub-lessee, assignee, managing agent, real estate agent,
or other person having the right to sell, rent, lease, or manage a
housing accommodation or an agent of any of those to establish standards
and preferences and set terms, conditions, limitations, or specifications
in any manner herein discussed which are not based on the lawful source
of income of the individual or the lawful source of income of any
person with whom the individual is or may wish to be associated; nor
shall this article be construed to apply to any religious organization
nor to render any otherwise unlawful conduct lawful, nor to create
or to grant classification, status, or class protections to any person
or persons not otherwise granted such classification, status or class
protections.
The Town shall prosecute any alleged violation of Chapter
119 in Municipal Court. The Court may impose a fine not exceeding $500 for violations of this chapter, with each day that a violation is maintained or continued being a separate offense.
Reports of alleged housing discrimination not addressed by this
chapter (for example, discrimination on the basis of classes protected
by state or federal law) if reported to a Town official/employee,
shall be addressed by forwarding the complaint to the Town Manager.
The Town Manager shall direct the reporting individual/entity to file
an appropriate complaint with the Rhode Island Commission for Human
Rights, and shall furnish a copy of the Housing Discrimination Questionnaire
utilized by the Commission for Human Rights to the complainant.