Islip updating housing discrimination law

Islip officials are working to update the town law against discriminatory housing practices, adding age, sexual orientation, marital, familial and military status to the list of no-nos banned under town code.

Paul Fink, executive director of Islip Community Development Agency, said the measures are in line with a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development requirement to "affirmatively further fair housing" in town-run programs.

Prohibiting housing discrimination based on a person's military status or sexual orientation is also in line with New York State human rights law, said Jennifer Blaske, executive director of the Suffolk County Human Rights Commission.

Frank Amalfitano, president of United Veterans Beacon House in Bay Shore, welcomed the move on military status.

"It makes sense for the town to do this in a time when increasingly we see military personnel are called up, told they'll be shipping out and then often the deployment's deferred through no fault of their own and they have to start over," he said. "Military people quit jobs, pay up utility bills, rearrange rent agreements, their lives are put on hold . . . and then they can be put on standby with no notice. "

The update was recommended by consultants the town engaged to review impediments to fair housing in 2010. The law, last updated in the 1970s, already bans landlords, real estate agents, salespeople and financial institutions involved in housing transactions from discriminating on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, disability or national origin.

The town board must hold a public hearing before the amended law can take effect.

While the town does not investigate housing discrimination cases -- that work falls to HUD and the Long Island Housing Services Inc. locally -- Fink said the update "sends an important message" that Islip endorses fair housing practices.

The ordinance applies to a range of professions and institutions involved in housing transactions -- from real estate agents, salespeople and landlords to banks, credit unions, investment companies and mortgage and insurance agents.

Penalties for offenses can include fines from $100 to $250 or imprisonment of between 5 and 15 days, or both.