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Is a Landlord Using Your Felony Conviction Against You? Here’s What You Can Do
Is a Landlord or Employer Using Your Felony Conviction Against You? Here’s What You Can Do
By Edward Henderson
The California state government has been reminding businesses and landlords across the state that it is illegal to discriminate against job and rental applicants because they have committed felonies or misdemeanors in the past.
The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) is also encouraging the public to report housing ads that use discriminatory language to exclude certain racial groups, immigrants, people with felonies, and applicants with Section 8 or U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) vouchers; etc.
“The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing announced a new effort to identify and correct violations of the Fair Chance Act, a pioneering state law that seeks to reduce barriers to employment for individuals with criminal histories,” a DFEH statement read. The Fair Chance act, which took effect on January 1, 2018, was written to increase access to employment and housing for Californians with criminal histories -- a way to reduce recidivism, among other goals. Employers with five or more employees are prohibited from asking a job candidate about conviction history during the hiring process or when advertising a vacancy.
Since the law passed, the state has sent more than 500 notices to businesses informing them that they have violated protections put in place to protect people seeking work.
The DFEH says it is implementing new 24
(510) 786-1246 1180 B Street Hayward, CA 94541 Lincoln Child Center Kinship Family support and services
http://lincolnfamilies.org/programs-services/family (510) 583-8026 111 Review Way Hayward, CA 94544
Eden Council for Hope and Opportunity, Inc. (ECHO)
Housing Tenant/landlord rights, shared housing, rent/deposit assistance, home equity counseling
https://www.echofairhousing. org/ (510) 581-9380 22551 Second Street, Suite 200 Hayward, CA 94541
Spectrum Community Service, Inc.
Independent living assistance for low-income individuals, families, and seniors https://www.spectrumcs.org/ (510) 881-0300 2621 Barrington Court Hayward, CA 94545
Everyone Home
Housing assistance http://www.everyonehome.org/ (510) 670-9796 224 W. Winton Av, Room 108 Hayward, CA 94544
The Hub Family Resource Center
General assistance https://www.husd.us/hub (510) 784-2600 24411 Amador St. Hayward, CA 94544
2-1-1 Eden I & R, Inc.
Community resource referrals http://edenir.org/ (510) 537-2710 570 B. Street Hayward , CA 94541
4Cs Community Child Care Council of Alameda County
Community childcare services https://4c-alameda.org/ (510) 582-2182 22351 City Center Drive Hayward, CA 94541 technologies to conduct mass searches of online job applications that include unlawful statements. For example, some businesses explicitly state in hiring advertisements that they would not consider applicants with criminal records.
“Using technology to proactively find violations of the state’s antidiscrimination laws is a powerful strategy for our department to protect Californians’ civil rights,” said DFEH Director Kevin Kish. “DFEH is committed to preventing employment discrimination through innovative enforcement actions and by providing clear guidance to employers.” DFEH released a toolkit to aid employers in adhering to the Fair Chance Act guidelines. The toolkit includes sample forms and guides employers can use to follow required procedures; a suggested statement that employers can add to job advertisements and applications to let applicants know that they will consider individuals with criminal histories; answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the Fair Chance Act and an informational video that explains the Fair Chance Act.
In addition, DFEH plans to release an interactive training and an online app this year.
DFEH also warns against masking discrimination with COVID safety precautions.
“As Californians navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Fair Employment and Housing has provided guidance to protect civil rights and mitigate risk of COVID-19 transmission in employment, housing, healthcare, and, in our guidance released today, businesses open to the public,” said Kish. “We can and must uphold civil rights while simultaneously disrupting the spread of COVID-19.”
DFEH encourages individuals to report job and housing advertisements violating the Fair Chance Act or other instances of discrimination.
Visit the DFEH website at www.dfeh.ca.gov to file complaints.
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DREAMCATCHER YOUTH SERVICES
Counseling and case management services (jobs, education, government assistance program help) https://covenanthousecalifornia.org/ dreamcatcher-youth-services/ (800) 379-1114 422 Jefferson Street Oakland, California 94607
Women Organized to Resist Life Threatening Disease (WORLD)
CID (combined immunodeficiency) support services for women http://womenhiv.org/ 510-986-0340 "389 30th Street Oakland, CA 94609
East Bay Community Recovery Project - Lifelong EBCRP Oakland
Outpatient treatment for drug addiction http://www.ebcrp.org (510) 446-7180 2577 San Pablo Ave. Oakland, CA 94612
East Bay Community Recovery Project - Lifelong EBCRP Project Pride
Outpatient treatment for drug addiction http://www.ebcrp.org (510) 446-7160 2545 San Pablo Ave. Oakland, CA 94612
Alameda County Behavioral Health Services (PSN)
Substance Use Treatment http://www.acbhcs.org/ 1-844-682-7214 2000 Embarcadero Cove, Suite 400 Oakland, CA 94606
Mental health services (800) 491-9099 Foster children/young adults (800) 491-9099
AIDS Project of the East Bay (APEB) advocacy and support to CID clients ( primary care, food pantry, housing, utilitiy funds) https://www.apeb.org/ (510) 663-7979 8400 Enterprise Way, Suite 118 Oakland, CA 94621
Healthy Oakland Wellness Center
Health Clinic, counseling services https://www.oaklandhc.com/ (510) 250-8000 3030 Webster St Oakland, CA 94609
Alameda County Bar Association
Legal service and legal assistance for Alameda low-income residents https://www.acbanet.org/ (510) 302-2201 1000 Broadway, Suite 290 Oakland, CA 94607
East Bay AIDS Center (EBAC)
CID primary care clinic for young adults https://www.sutterhealth.org/findlocation/facility/east-bay-aids-centerebac (510) 655-4000 ext. 3808 3100 Summit St. 2nd Floor Oakland, CA 94609 510-921-6680
City Team Ministries
Men's residential drug and alcohol program https://cityteam.org/oakland/ (510)452-3758 722 Washington St. Oakland, CA 94607
West Oakland Health Center
medical, mental health, and substance abuse treatment https://westoaklandhealth.org/ (510) 835-9610 700 Adeleine Street Oakland, CA 94607
Youth Employment Partnership
Education, employment and social serivces for youth https://www.yep.org/ (510) 533-3447 2300 International Boulevard Oakland, CA 94601
Salvation Army Adult
Rehabilitation Center Rresidential substance abuse program for men https://oaklandarc.salvationarmy.org/ (510) 451-4514 601 Webster Street Oakland, CA 94607
Earth Circles Counseling Center
Psychotherapy services https://www.earthcirclescenter.com/ 510-601-1929 166 Santa Clara Avenue Oakland , CA 94610
BAART Programs
Drug addiction treatment and mental health services https://baartprograms.com/ (510)533-0800 1124 International Blvd. Oakland, CA 94606
La Clinica Optical
Optometry and ophthalmology services https://laclinica.org/ (510) 535-4141 3060-B East 9th Street Oakland, CA 94601
Eastmont Wellness Center
Primary and specialized health care http://www.acmedctr.org/ (510) 567-5700 6955 Foothill Blvd. #200 Eastmont Mall Shopping Center Oakland, CA 94605
Highland Ambulatory Care Clinics
Primary and specialized health care http://www.acmedctr.org/ (510) 437-5039 1411 E. 31st St Oakland, CA 94602 (510) 437-4800
Organization to Achieve Solutions in Substance Abuse
STD/I testing and treatment http://www.oasiscliniconline.org/ (510) 834-5442 520 27th Street 26
Oakland, CA 94612
Alameda County Health Care for the Homeless
General health care only to the homeless https://acphd.org/ (510) 532-1930 1900 Fruitvale Avenue Oakland, CA 94601
Prescott Joseph Center
Medical clinic https://www.prescottjoseph.org/ (510) 835-8683 920 Peralta Street Oakland, CA 94607
Order of Malta Clinic
Health care clinic https://www.orderofmaltaclinic.com/ (510) 587-3000 2121 Harrison St, Ste 102 Oakland, CA 94612
Oakland Homeless Project
Housing assistance https://www. oaklandhomelessresponse.com/ (510) 465-0881 1820 Jefferson Street Oakland, CA 94612
St. Mary's Center Senior Services
Senior services (55 and over) http://stmaryscenter.org/ community-center/ (510) 923-9600 925 Brockhurst St Oakland, CA 94608
A Safe Place
Shelter for abused and/or battered women and children https://www.asafeplace.org/ (510) 986-8600 P. O. Box 23006 Oakland, CA 94623
East Oakland Community Project
24 Hour Emergency Shelter, education and health services http://www.eocp.net/ (510)-532-3211 7515 International Blvd Oakland, CA 94621
BANANAS
Child care https://bananasbunch.org/ (510) 658-7353 5232 Claremont Ave Oakland, CA 94618
Alameda County Family Justice Center
Domestic violence, family support http://www.acfjc.org/ (510) 267-8800 470 27th Street Oakland, CA 94612
Immigration Institute of the Bay Area
Immigrant community support https://iibayarea.org/about/ (510) 451-2846 x 301 476 3rd Street Oakland, CA94607
Bonita House Berkeley
Mental health and substance abuse https://bonitahouse.org/ (510) 923-1099 6333 Telegraph Ave., Suite 102 Oakland, CA 94609
NAACP Empowerment Programs, Inc
Expungement Clinics Rashid Sidqe Rashid.Sidqe@ca-naacp.org 916-306-0778 Serves: San Francisco, Alameda, Contra Costa,Fresno, San Joaquin
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IMPACT ALAMEDA
