Fair Housing Organizations Receive $40M+ in Grants

In early May, HUD awarded nearly $41.18 million to 99 fair housing organizations and other nonprofit agencies in 35 states and the District of Columbia to assist people who believe they’ve been victims of housing discrimination. Funded through HUD’s Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP), the grants 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.

“It is our continued commitment to ensure that every person has equal access to housing,” HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan said in a statement. “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 include:
• Private Enforcement Initiative grants (PEI)—$30 million to help local nonprofit fair housing organizations carry out testing and enforcement activities to prevent or eliminate discriminatory housing practices;
• Education and Outreach Initiative grants (EOI)—$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; and
• Fair Housing Organizations Initiative (FHOI)—$5.25 million to help build the capacity and effectiveness of nonprofit fair housing organizations, particularly organizations that focus on the rights and needs of underserved groups, such as rural and immigrant populations.

To see a project-by-project listing of the grant recipients, click here.

Source: HUD