Fighting Discrimination against Housing Vouchers in University Heights

In 2012, The City of University Heights added protection within their city’s fair housing ordinance from discrimination based upon source of income (SOI) to include protection for people with rental subsidies, including Housing Choice Vouchers formerly known as Section 8 vouchers. 

In 2025, The Fair Housing Center and 5 co-plaintiffs who had sought to rent housing with their vouchers at an apartment complex within the City filed suit alleging discrimination in violation of the City’s SOI protections. University Heights’ Huntington Green Apartments faces lawsuit over alleged discrimination against voucher holders - cleveland.com

In late 2025, one of the named Defendants in this lawsuit filed suit against The City of University Heights alleging that their SOI protections are unlawful.

Instead of fighting to protect civil rights in the City, Council is scheduled to consider an emergency measure introduced by Vice-Mayor Rach and Councilperson Weizer to end SOI protections for voucher holders in response to the federal lawsuit.  City Council meets Wednesday, 3/4/26 at 7pm.  If the emergency measure passes to amend the City’s fair housing ordinance, it would allow discrimination against vouchers holders in the City.

NEOCH knows that increased access increases equity, and regardless of whether your rent is paid with money from Social security, a parent's trust fund, a 9-5 job or a housing voucher, it is all legal tender and should be accepted. This is the first case brought against a housing provider, and the University Heights seems ready to fold like a cardboard box. If housing is a human Right, we must demand that our elected officials act like it. Join us in attendance at Wednesday's City Council meeting at 7pm to hold the line in the war against the poor and protect Renter's Rights.