WASHINGTON Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) and freshman Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) are teaming up on legislation to make it easier for people with criminal records to obtain federal housing assistance.

The bill, titled the Fair Chance at Housing Act of 2019, seeks to reform the federal governments eviction and screening policies so individuals with a criminal history have a better shot at getting and keeping public housing.

The two prominent progressives are hoping to reduce recidivism and homelessness by helping ex-offenders find stable housing in the wake of the failed War on Drugs, which contributed to a disproportionate increase in the incarceration rate of U.S. minorities.

Under current law, applicants for public housing or Section 8 vouchers may be rejected by housing authorities if a background check reveals drug-related crimes or violent crimes in their record. Public housing beneficiaries can also be evicted if they are convicted of a crime, no matter how minor.

The Fair Chance at Housing Act would loosen those guidelines somewhat by banning evictions based on a single incident of past criminal activity, instead requiring authorities to make decisions based on a holistic review of a tenants record. The bill would also do away with a current policy that allows an entire family to be evicted for criminal activity committed by a guest.

Too many people become involved in our criminal justice system and serve their time only to return home to face additional barriers to employment, education, and housing, Harris, a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, said in a statement.

As our country continues working toward much-needed reform of our criminal justice system, I am proud to work with Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez to ensure formerly incarcerated individuals and their families have access to safe and affordable housing as they transition back into their community, she added. By requiring a higher standard of evidence and a more holistic review process, we are taking a significant step toward giving Americans a fair chance to succeed.

Harris has emphasized criminal justice reform as part of her pitch to voters, recently releasing a proposal that aims to close the pay gap between public defenders and prosecutors. But she has faced criticism from some on the left, who say her record as a prosecutor in California contradicts her rhetoric on criminal justice reform.

The bill introduced by Harris and Ocasio-Cortez on Wednesday would also make public housing authorities be fairer to applicants who are denied housing assistance due to past criminal activity by giving them written notice and an opportunity to appeal a decision.