Where do I go to resolve a housing discrimination complaint in my city?

The situation

I am living in Chicago, Illinois, and I am dealing with a very upsetting situation regarding my recent apartment application. About three weeks ago, on October 12th, I applied for a two-bedroom unit at a large managed complex near my workplace. I provided all my income documentation, including my recent paychecks showing I earn enough to cover the $2,200 monthly rent. However, the property manager told me the unit was no longer available, but two days later, I saw the exact same unit listed online for a different price. I strongly suspect they are refusing to rent to me because of my religious background, as I mentioned my need for specific prayer space during our initial phone call. I already tried calling the manager back to ask for clarification, but they were extremely dismissive and hung up on me. I want to know how the government handles these kinds of fairness issues. Specifically, if I file a formal complaint, does the government agency responsible for this actually hold meetings in my local area, or do I have to travel to Washington, D.C., to deal with an official or a judge to get this resolved?

Detailed Analysis

Under the Fair Housing Act, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development is responsible for managing complaints regarding housing discrimination^[1]. If you believe the property manager near your workplace discriminated against you because of your religious background, you can file a formal written complaint with the Secretary^[3].

You do not need to travel to Washington, D.C. to deal with officials. The law states that "insofar as possible, conciliation meetings shall be held in the cities or other localities where the discriminatory housing practices allegedly occurred"^[1]. Conciliation is a process where the government helps the two parties try to reach a voluntary agreement to resolve the dispute^[3].

If you choose to have a formal hearing instead of a civil trial, an administrative law judge—a government official who presides over legal hearings—will handle the case. This judge is required to "conduct the hearing at a place in the vicinity in which the discriminatory housing practice is alleged to have occurred or to be about to occur"^[2].

It is important to note that if a local or state agency in Illinois is certified to handle these matters, the federal government may refer your complaint to that local agency instead of handling it directly^[3]. Please note that state, provincial, or local laws may add further rules, so you should check Chicago or Illinois-specific fair housing regulations.

Statutory Citations

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