Ohio housing authority agrees to settle discrimination claim

CLEVELAND (AP) — A northeast Ohio housing authority has voluntarily agreed to settle allegations that it discriminated against blacks in its Section 8 voucher program.

A statement Wednesday from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development says the Medina Metropolitan Housing Authority agreed to drop preferences for people who live or work in Medina County.

The authority also will create a relocation fund to help subsidize the cost of moving into the county, purge its waiting list and will provide Section 8 housing vouchers on a first-come, first-served basis.

Housing authority executive director Skip Sipos says the department reviewed Medina County’s Section 8 program after dismissing a discrimination complaint that was filed against the agency. The settlement agreement says the department didn’t find evidence of intentional discrimination.