"The Council hereby finds that some landlords refuse to offer available units because of the source of income tenants . . . plan to use to pay the rent. In particular, studies have shown that landlords discriminate against holders of section 8 vouchers because of prejudices they hold about voucher holders. This bill would make it illegal to discriminate on that basis" (Note [1] following Administrative Code § 8-101 [provisions of section (1) of Local Law No. 10 (2008) of City of NY] [emphasis added]).
In subsequent discussions of the added code section, the City Council stated that Local Law 10 would help maintain affordable housing by maximizing the use of Section 8 vouchers or other forms of governmental rent payment in the City. The City Council further noted that the intent was to help those who have a Section 8 voucher to use that voucher quickly and{**184 AD3d at 61} to get to affordable housing. It was further contemplated that there would be other positive effects, such as reducing the level of homelessness and all the dislocation of families in the city. Plaintiff's arguments are also inconsistent with the requirement that the City HRL "be construed liberally" to accomplish its "uniquely broad and remedial purposes" (Administrative Code § 8-130 [a]).
The fact that the security vouchers are a guarantee of payment, rather than a cash payment, does not render them not "income," as they are an item of value, worth a payment of up to one month's rent on the tenant's behalf to compensate for unpaid rent or damages to an apartment.