Late in the evening on February 27, the Fair Housing Center received a letter from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) indicating that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) had decided to abruptly terminate current grant contracts that it entered with the Fair Housing Center. The letter provided no explanation.
“With no prior notice, we were told that two important ongoing grant contracts that provide direct services to Lucas and Wood County residents were terminated by DOGE,” said George Thomas, CEO and general counsel of the Fair Housing Center.
Several fair housing organizations have filed a class action against HUD and DOGE. With the recent lawsuit filing, the Fair Housing Center has issued the following public statement about the grant cancelations: Fair Housing laws ensure everyone has an equal opportunity for housing. But those crucial civil rights laws quickly become meaningless without agencies that investigate and help victims to enforce the law. Fair housing agencies, like the Fair Housing Center, provide this basic direct service for Americans.
Housing discrimination often results in homelessness and makes an already tight housing market even more difficult to access for marginalized members of our community. Many Ohioans may face housing discrimination but do not understand their rights. It is critical that Ohioans have basic information about their rights and responsibilities under the Fair Housing Act, especially now. The two grants that DOGE and HUD canceled were to help Lucas and Wood county residents understand housing discrimination and their rights.
One grant focused on racial discrimination and opposition to the development of affordable housing.
Thomas explained: “This grant came at an important time as our nation faces a housing crisis and an increase in housing discrimination. We just saw KKK flyers distributed in the Wood County area. This grant was designed to allow us to provide outreach and education to these same areas to help address exactly these kinds of terrible new trends.”
The other grant focused on helping the Lucas and Wood county residents understand housing discrimination after the Supreme Court’s decision in Bostock vs. Clayton County.
“Following the court’s ruling in Bostock vs. Clayton County, illegal housing discrimination includes discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. No Ohioan should be denied housing because of their sex, but not everyone knows this update to the law,” said Thomas. “We planned to update our educational materials, provide outreach and educate Lucas and Wood county residents on this development.”
The Fair Housing Center was not alone in facing cuts. Many other fair housing agencies across the nation faced similar abrupt terminations. Several fair housing organizations have filed a class action lawsuit; the Fair Housing Center is a member of this class.
“We thank the Relman Colfax law firm and the National Fair Housing Alliance for their leadership in this effort,” Thomas said.
Our offices remain open and ready to assist victims of housing discrimination. Residents may reach us at 419-243-6163.
“We want to be very clear that our services remain available for Lucas and Wood county residents. We are extremely disappointed with the sudden and bizarre cancelation of these education and outreach grants, but residents should understand that they can still contact us for help,” said Thomas.
