HUD AWARDS $38 MILLION TO FIGHT DISCRIMINATION

WASHINGTON, D.C. – (RealEstateRama) — The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced today that it is awarding $38 million under its Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) to confront discriminatory housing practices. HUD’s grants will support some 155 national and local fair housing organizations working to confront violations of the nation’s landmark Fair Housing Act (see grantee list below).

This year, HUD provided competitive funding under three notices to organizations that support a wide range of fair housing enforcement, education and outreach activities. These grants allow the groups to provide fair housing enforcement through testing in the rental and sales markets, to file fair housing complaints to HUD, and to conduct investigations. Finally, the education and outreach activities these organizations conduct also help to educate the public, housing providers and local governments about their rights and responsibilities under the Fair Housing Act.

“Every person should have a fair chance to live in a community of opportunity, free from discrimination,” said HUD Secretary Julián Castro. “HUD remains deeply committed to fighting housing discrimination so folks have an equal shot at achieving the American Dream.Working closely with our fair housing partners on the ground, the investments we make today are a strong step forward to put an end to housing discrimination.”

FHIP grants are provided under three categories:

• Private Enforcement Initiative grants (PEI) – These awards help nonprofit fair housing enforcement organizations carry out investigations and other enforcement activities to prevent or eliminate discriminatory housing practices. This year’s PEI funds awarded a total of $30,350,000. Of this amount, $29,375,000 was awarded to fiscal year 2014, 2015 and 2016 Multi-Year awardees, while the remaining funding was reserved for fiscal year 2016 Lending Component awardees.
• Education and Outreach Initiative grants (EOI) – HUD awards these grants to groups that educate the public and housing providers about their rights and responsibilities under federal law or state and local fair housing laws that are substantially equivalent to the Fair Housing Act. The EOI funding totaled $7,450,000 for these activities.
• Fair Housing Organizations Initiative grants (FHOI) – HUD awards these grants to help build the capacity and effectiveness of non-profit fair housing organizations to continue and enhance enforcement of the Fair Housing Act. $500,000 was awarded in this category.

Any person who believes he or she has been discriminated in housing may file a complaint by contacting HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity at (800) 669-9777 (voice) or (800) 927-9275 (TTY). Housing discrimination complaints may also be filed by going to www.hud.gov/fairhousing, or by downloading HUD’s free housing discrimination mobile application, whichcan be accessed through Apple and Android devices.

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HUD’s mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all.
More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet
at www.hud.gov and http://espanol.hud.gov.

You can also connect with HUD on social media and follow Secretary Castro on
Twitter and Facebook or sign up for news alerts on HUD’s Email List.

2016 FHIP AWARD WINNERS

Elena Gaona
(202) 708-0685