The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development recently awarded nearly $41.18 million to 99 fair housing organizations and other non-profit agencies in 35 states and the District of Columbia to assist people who believe they have been victims of housing discrimination (see attached list of grantees).
The competitive grants announced today are funded through HUD’s Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP). They will be used to enforce the Fair Housing Act through investigation and testing of alleged discriminatory practices, and to educate housing providers, local governments and potential victims of housing discrimination about their rights and responsibilities under the Fair Housing Act. HUD had over $70 million in requests for FHIP, but funded only $41 million.
“It is our continued commitment to ensure that every person has equal access to housing,” says HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. “These grants are a cost-effective investment. Cases bolstered by FHIP-funded investigations are more likely to uncover discrimination when it has occurred than cases without such support.”
HUD’s Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity John Trasviña added, “We are pleased to provide the only federal grant support to private fair housing enforcement and education. Our partners are essential to ending housing discrimination.”
The categories of grants awarded are:
• Private Enforcement Initiative grants (PEI) – HUD awarded $30 million to help local non-profit fair housing organizations carry out testing and enforcement activities to prevent or eliminate discriminatory housing practices.
• Education and Outreach Initiative grants (EOI) – HUD awarded $5.9 million to groups that educate the public and housing providers about their rights and responsibilities under federal, state, and local fair housing laws.
• Fair Housing Organizations Initiative (FHOI) – HUD awarded $5.25 million to help build the capacity and effectiveness of non-profit fair housing organizations, particularly organizations that focus on the rights and needs of underserved groups, such as rural and immigrant populations.
For more information, visit www.hud.gov.
