THOMPSON ANNOUNCES HOUSING GRANT FOR GREATER NAPA VALLEY FAIR HOUSING CENTER
Washington, D.C. – October 1, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-5) today announced a $279,467 Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Fair Housing Initiative Program (FHIP) grant for Greater Napa Valley Fair Housing Center (GNVFHC). This grant will fund the agency’s fair housing enforcement, education and outreach work. This includes the implementation of fair housing investigations, trainings and presentations, and related activities that promote GNVFHC’s mission to eliminate housing discrimination and ensure equal housing opportunity for all people.
“A person’s race or ethnicity has absolutely no place in determining whether or not they can rent or buy at home,” said Thompson. “If people are discriminated against when trying to find a place to live, quality assistance like that offered by GNVFHC should be available. I am proud to support this grant and the work of GNVFHC.”
“Greater Napa Valley Fair Housing Center is honored to be awarded this funding,” said Pablo Zatarain, Program Manager at GNVFHC. “These funds will allow GNVFHC to more effectively serve the residents of the region, and will supplement the resources the agency has at its disposal to meet our clients’ needs.”
Fair housing organizations and other non-profits that receive funding through the Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) assist people who believe they have been victims of housing discrimination.
FHIP organizations partner with HUD to help people identify government agencies that handle complaints of housing discrimination. They also conduct preliminary investigation of claims, including sending “testers” to properties suspected of practicing housing discrimination. Testers are minorities and whites with the same financial qualifications who evaluate whether housing providers treat equally-qualified people differently.
In addition to funding organizations that provide direct assistance to individuals who feel they have been discriminated against while attempting to purchase or rent housing, FHIP also has initiatives that promote fair housing laws and equal housing opportunity awareness.
The grant for GNVFHC is a Private Enforcement Initiative (PEI). PEIs are multi-year grants that are reoccurring for up to three years as long as the grantee maintains satisfactory performance.
Congressman Mike Thompson is proud to represent California’s 5th Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma Counties. He is a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee. Rep. Thompson is also a member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition and chairs the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Wine Caucus
