Unlocking Doors: Ending Source of Income Discrimination

BY CLEVELAND L. HORTON II

Imagine working hard, playing by the rules, and finally securing the resources to find a safe place to call home—only to be told “no,” because of how you pay your rent.

That is the crushing reality for too many Marylanders who face Source of Income (SOI) discrimination, a modern-day barrier dressed in polite language but rooted in harmful, outdated assumptions. It’s happening in our cities, in our suburbs, and in communities across the state. And as professionals entrusted with shaping where—and how—people live, Maryland’s REALTORS® must be on the front lines of ending it.

What Is Source of Income Discrimination?

SOI discrimination occurs when housing providers refuse to rent to someone based on lawful income sources such as Housing Choice Vouchers (formerly Section 8), Social Security, veterans’ benefits, disability income, alimony, child support, inheritance, or other non-wage assistance.

Let’s be clear: this is not about whether someone can pay—because they can. It’s about how they pay, and that “how” is being used to deny opportunity, dignity, and in many cases, basic shelter.

It is now illegal in Maryland to discriminate against someone based on their lawful source of income. The law is clear. But the culture is not yet where it needs to be.

A Hidden Wall with Real Consequences

Too often, SOI discrimination is not as overt as a slammed door—it’s a subtle redirection, a listing quietly taken off the market, a “sorry, we’ve already found a tenant,” even when that’s not true. This behavior disproportionately affects Black and Brown renters, people with disabilities, and single-parent households— particularly women-led families.

These are not isolated cases. This is a pattern.

And for every door that’s closed due to SOI discrimination, we are not just denying housing—we are denying opportunity. We are denying a child a better school district. We are denying a veteran a chance to rebuild. We are denying a mother the peace of mind that comes from stability.

Why REALTORS® Must Lead

As the gatekeepers of housing access, Maryland’s REALTORS® are uniquely positioned to be champions of fair housing—not just in compliance, but in culture.

This is a defining leadership moment.

I challenge every REALTOR® reading this to ask:

• Am I upholding inclusive practices— or unknowingly reinforcing barriers?

• Do I know my legal obligations—and do I go beyond them in spirit?

• Am I using my platform to educate, empower, and lead?

Because in a housing market shaped so deeply by trust, access, and relationships—you are more than a professional. You are a gatekeeper. You are an advocate. You are a difference-maker.

Building a Fairer Future—Together

The Maryland Commission on Civil Rights is here as your partner in this work. We offer training, resources, and guidance to help you navigate the changing legal landscape and make your practices truly equitable. But make no mistake: laws alone will not change the world. People do.

And when real estate professionals decide that discrimination—overt or covert—has no place in their listings, their contracts, their policies, or their silence, we move one step closer to the Maryland we know is possible—a Maryland where opportunity is not determined by your income type, where every door is open based on merit, not bias—where REALTORS® are proud to be not just brokers of homes, but brokers of hope.

This moment calls for more than compliance. It calls for courage. Let’s rise to it—together.

Cleveland Horton, II, was appointed Executive Director of the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights in 2024. As Executive Director, Mr. Horton remains committed to building on the Commission’s legacy of success, implementing forward-thinking strategies to address emerging civil rights challenges, and serving as a beacon of hope and progress for the citizens of Maryland.