JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – 11 March 2025 — On Monday, March 10, HB 595 was passed by Missouri’s Senate Committee on Local Government, Elections, and Pensions, moving us one step closer to enshrining discrimination against Missouri’s poorest tenants into state law. HB 595, and its companion bill, SB 507, would prevent municipalities in Missouri from enacting Source of Income (SOI) discrimination bans, and would void bans already in place in Kansas City, St. Louis, Webster Groves, Columbia, and Clayton, MO.
The most common form of SOI discrimination is a refusal to accept Housing Choice Vouchers (HCVs), a policy that makes it extremely difficult for low-income renters already at risk of homelessness to find housing. A 2018 study funded by the US Department of Housing & Urban Development and conducted by the Urban Institute showed that over 67% of landlords refused to rent to voucher-holders in cities without SOI anti-discrimination laws. In comparison, less than 31% of landlords refused to rent to voucher holders in cities with SOI discrimination bans in place. This demonstrates that SOI discrimination bans are effective public policy and should not be preempted by our state government.
Central Missouri Community Action, recognizes the importance of vouchers in keeping Missourians stably housed. Darin Pries, Executive Director, said, “Housing Choice Vouchers are an important support for people who are struggling to afford housing. As housing costs have gone up, these vouchers have become more and more critical. Nearly two-thirds of our voucher holders are seniors or people with disabilities. Vouchers provide critical housing support for families that can’t afford market-driven rents. There is already a shortage of landlords who accept Housing Vouchers and we do not want that pool to get any smaller.”
In 2024, the US hit a new record high for homelessness, increasing by 18% from 2023. In the same time period, Missouri saw a 13.7% increase in homelessness for households with children. HCVs have been proven to lift people out of poverty, increase mental and physical health outcomes, and decrease homelessness. Misha Smith, Affordable Housing Policy Manager at Empower Missouri, said, “SOI discrimination bans are a key tool for local governments to prevent homelessness and ensure that those with the least among us can put a roof over their heads. The state should not be preventing local governments from enacting these provisions.”
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Empower Missouri (www.EmpowerMissouri.org), a statewide not-for-profit organization, was founded in 1901 to solve the underlying issues driving poverty in our state. Through advocacy, research and education, Empower Missouri works collaboratively with community members, nonprofit organizations and state and federal policy makers to build an understanding of systemic poverty and its role in Missouri. Our goal is to ensure all Missourians have access to affordable housing, adequate and nutritious food, and equal justice in their communities.
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