As a federally funded program, the local employees of the Troy Housing Authority are covered by The Hatch Act, a federal law passed in 1939. The Hatch Act limits certain political activities of federal employees and local government employees who work in connection with federally funded programs. Due to this the Troy Housing Authority must remain neutral in all partisan political matters. This extends to the common area resources of the Troy Housing Authority (community centers, open spaces and other spaces not rented by tenants or under a tenant’s control). With this in mind the Troy Housing Authority cannot allow any political candidates to hold events on our property nor can any political candidate use the name of the Troy Housing Authority, the name of any of our sites or the business address of any of our facilities to promote their events.

Individual tenants are allowed to display campaign signs in their windows and on their doors to promote the candidates of their choosing. However, such signs must be displayed in a manner that signifies that the particular tenant is promoting that candidacy and must not be displayed in a manner that gives the appearance that the apartment complex or the Troy Housing Authority is endorsing that candidate.

Similarly, candidates are free to go door to door to as part of their political campaigning so that they may discuss with our tenants their position on matters of concern to the public so that our tenants may make an informed decision when it is time to vote.