The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced that it has earmarked $20,229,156 for fair housing organizations nationwide as a means of combating housing discrimination.
“The work HUD’s fair housing partners do is critical to our efforts to ensure that every person and family that calls America home has an equal shot when it comes to obtaining housing,” Jeanine Worden, HUD’s acting assistant secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, said. “HUD is committed to providing these groups with the funding they need to carry out their many important activities.”
The funding allotment would address fair housing testing, education, and outreach, in addition to capacity building, provided through the Department’s Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP).
Authorities noted the Education and Outreach Initiative (EOI) would receive $7,223,649 to help groups develop and implement tester training and education and outreach programs; the Fair Housing Organizations Initiative (FHOI) has been provided $2,250,000 to assist non-profit fair housing organizations with building capacity and effectiveness to conduct enforcement related activities; and the Private Enforcement Initiative (PEI) has been allotted $10,755,507 to help non-profit fair housing enforcement organizations conduct investigations and other enforcement activities regarding the prevention or elimination of discriminatory housing practices.
Funding is available to support organizations enforcing the nation’s fair housing laws and policies, in addition to educating the public, housing providers, and local governments about Fair Housing Act rights and responsibilities.