HUD Awards $31.7M to support fair housing organizations nationwide

By Stacy M. Brown
Contributing Writer

(NNPA) — The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded $31.7 million in grants to 75 fair housing organizations across the country as part of its FY 2024 budget, providing crucial support to initiatives aimed at eliminating housing discrimination. Among the recipients are two Washington, D.C.-based organizations, the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) and the Equal Rights Center, each receiving over $400,000.

The grants are part of HUD’s Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP), with funds being directed to second- and third-year multi-year grantees of the Private Enforcement Initiative (PEI). These funds will enable the organizations to continue their enforcement efforts to address housing discrimination nationwide.

The National Fair Housing Alliance, located in Northwest D.C., works to eliminate housing discrimination through a wide range of programs including education, advocacy, enforcement, and public policy. The Equal Rights Center, based in Northeast D.C., focuses on addressing discrimination in housing, employment, and public accommodations both locally and nationally.

These grants will support the organizations’ fair housing enforcement activities, which include conducting investigations, fair housing testing in rental and sales markets, and filing complaints with HUD or state and local agencies. Additionally, the funds will enable educational outreach to inform the public and housing providers about the Fair Housing Act and its provisions.

“Ensuring fair access to quality and affordable housing for people who have been historically discriminated against is one of the foundations of our mission,” HUD Acting Secretary Adrianne Todman said in a news release. “These awards provide significant resources to our private partners on the ground to enforce the Fair Housing Act and promote inclusive communities.”

HUD also extended financial support to five additional organizations, including Family Housing Advisory Services and Housing Opportunities Project for Excellence (HOPE), Inc., using $500,000 in unspent funds from its FY 2023 budget. These grants fall under the Education and Outreach Initiative (EOI), aimed at educating the public and housing providers about fair housing laws and compliance.

“The Fair Housing Initiative Program continues to empower our state and local partners to advance fair housing at the grassroots level,” added HUD Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Diane M. Shelley. “These funds will drive meaningful progress and lasting positive impact within the communities we serve.”

This article originally published in the September 16, 2024 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.