Where can I go to settle a housing discrimination dispute near my home?

The situation

I am living in a small suburb in Ohio and I am dealing with a really upsetting situation regarding my recent apartment application. About three weeks ago, on October 12th, I applied for a two-bedroom unit at a large complex called Oakwood Gardens. I provided my proof of income, which shows I make about $5,500 a month, and my credit score is solid. However, the property manager told me over the phone yesterday that they wouldn't be moving forward with my application because of my family status, even though they told other single applicants they were available. I have already tried calling the manager back to ask for a clarification in writing, but they just hung up on me. I want to file a formal complaint to get this investigated, but I am overwhelmed by the idea of traveling to Washington D.C. or a big city like Columbus to handle all the meetings and paperwork. Since the unfair treatment happened right here in my local neighborhood, is there a way to have the official meetings and the investigation process held locally instead of making me travel across the state?

Detailed Analysis

Regarding your situation with Oakwood Gardens, you do not necessarily have to travel to Washington D.C. or Columbus for every part of the process. The Fair Housing Act governs how the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development handles these disputes.

Specifically, the law addresses the location of meetings used to resolve these issues. The statute says, "Insofar as possible, conciliation meetings shall be held in the cities or other localities where the discriminatory housing practices allegedly occurred"^[1]. This means that for your dispute regarding the denial of your application on October 12th due to family status, the government aims to hold settlement discussions in or near your local suburb rather than in a distant major city.

Conciliation is a process where a neutral party helps the people involved reach an agreement to settle the matter without a full trial. Because the law prioritizes holding these meetings in the locality where the incident happened, it is designed to reduce the burden on people like you who are dealing with local issues.

While the law provides this preference for local meetings, it is not an absolute guarantee that every single administrative step or hearing will be local. The Secretary has the power to delegate duties to various employees and boards, and while they aim for local meetings, the exact logistics of an investigation or a formal hearing may vary based on how the Department of Housing and Urban Development organizes its staff^[1].

Additionally, you have the right to pursue a civil action—which is a lawsuit filed in court—through a state or federal court if you choose to bypass the administrative process^[2].

State, provincial, or local laws may add further rules regarding housing discrimination and local enforcement agencies; you should check Ohio's specific fair housing statutes.

Statutory Citations

Related Questions

• Where do I go to resolve a housing discrimination complaint in my city?
• Can my local housing office work with the federal government on my discrimination claim?
• Can I sue my local landlord for discrimination if I can't afford a lawyer?
• How long do I have to sue my landlord for discrimination?
• Can my local housing office work with the federal government to help with my case?