TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) – Amid a nationwide housing crisis, both DOGE and the Department of Housing and Urban Development have cut critical service for thousands of local residents.
“We are still open. We’re still receiving complaints of housing discrimination,” George Thomas, the CEO of the Fair Housing Center, said.
Employees at the Fair Housing Center said despite the cut to funding, they are ready to help victims of housing discrimination. DOGE and HUD cut critical housing services for residents of Lucas and Wood counties.
The CEO of the Fair Housing Center said several fair housing organizations have filed a class action suit to block the cancellation of the grants and the Fair Housing Center is part of the lawsuit.
“We’re going to try to find anyway that we can move forward. Keep in mind that lawsuit is still pending and they’re asking for an emergency order. So hopefully, we’ll have some new information from that lawsuit,” Thomas said.
One grant is for education outreach to address racial discrimination and opposition to affordable housing. The other grant is focused on helping residents understand housing discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Thomas said no Ohioan should be denied housing because of their sex.
“This is harmful to our area. This is funding that was coming into our area for really critical services, especially no in the midst of a housing crisis in our area. To open up those doors of opportunity. To get marginalized communities access to housing that maybe they would have otherwise lost those opportunities,” Thomas said.
Thomas said you can help the Fair Housing Center by contacting your local elected representative and asking them to end what he calls the attack on fair housing.
The Fair Housing Center issued a call to action which can be read below:
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