Can my local housing office work with the federal government to help with my case?

The situation

I live in Ohio and I am currently dealing with a really frustrating situation regarding my apartment rental. About three months ago, in early January, I applied for a two-bedroom unit at a large complex near my work. After I submitted my application and my proof of income, the property manager told me they wouldn't rent to me because of my source of income, even though I have a steady paycheck. I tried calling the local city housing office last week to report this discrimination, and they told me they are looking into it. However, I am confused about how much power they actually have to help me. I want to know if the federal government is allowed to step in and provide resources or money to my local office so they can actually investigate this manager and help me get my deposit back. Can the federal government pay my local state agency or give them extra staff to handle these kinds of fair housing complaints, or does the local office have to do everything on their own budget without any outside help from Washington?

Detailed Analysis

Under the Fair Housing Act, the federal government has the authority to partner with your local housing office to address discrimination. The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is permitted to "cooperate with State and local agencies charged with the administration of State and local fair housing laws"^[1]. This means the federal government does not have to leave your local office to work on its own budget.

Specifically, the law allows the Secretary to "utilize the services of such agencies and their employees"^[1]. This means the federal government can use the staff and expertise already present in your local office to help carry out federal fair housing duties. Furthermore, the Secretary "may reimburse such agencies and their employees for services rendered to assist him in carrying out this subchapter"^[1]. This directly addresses your concern about money; the federal government can pay your local agency back for the time and resources they spend helping with investigations.

To make this official, the Secretary and your local agency can enter into "written agreements"^[1]. These agreements ensure both parties know their roles and how the cooperation will work. Additionally, the Secretary can provide "technical assistance" to local agencies that are working to prevent or eliminate housing discrimination^[2].

In your specific situation regarding the apartment complex that refused to rent to you based on your income, these cooperative efforts could mean your local office has more support to investigate the manager's actions. However, the law does not guarantee that the federal government *will* provide extra money or staff for every single local case; it simply provides the legal authority to do so through these agreements and reimbursements.

Statutory Citations

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