The key to this press release from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to the Daily Business News on MHProNews might be boiled down to these pull quotes. The:
· …Department’s Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) to help people who believe they have been victims of housing discrimination and to educate the public and housing providers on fair housing laws.
· Persons who believe they have experienced discrimination 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).
This is a broad invitation by HUD. Why does this matter to MHVille? On several levels, but let’s mention one. Consider scenarios like the one in Bryan, TX – not just the sadly all too typical cases of discrimination based upon one or more of the protected classes. After the release, will be some related reports.
HUD AWARDS ADDITIONAL $15 MILLION
TO FIGHT HOUSING DISCRIMINATION
Grants to support and promote fair housing nationwide
WASHINGTON – To help end housing discrimination, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today awarded an additional $15 million to support dozens of fair housing organizations working to confront violations of the nation’s landmark Fair Housing Act (see grant chart below).
HUD’s grants are provided through the Department’s Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) to help people who believe they have been victims of housing discrimination and to educate the public and housing providers on fair housing laws. In addition to the new grants announced today, HUD awarded $23 million to existing fair housing organizations last winter.
“Even though the Fair Housing Act became the law of the land 51 years ago, housing discrimination continues to this day,” said HUD Secretary Ben Carson. “HUD will continue to confront housing discrimination in all its forms and advance our mission of safe, affordable housing free from discrimination.”
HUD’s FHIP grants 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. Additionally, 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.
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.
· 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.
· 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.
Persons who believe they have experienced discrimination 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).
If you think HUD is no longer serious about enforcing fair housing laws, this and examples linked below may make an objective person think twice. “We Provide, You Decide.” © ## (News, analysis, and commentary.)
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Submitted by Soheyla Kovach to the Daily Business News for MHProNews.com.
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