The Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded over $47 million in grants to 120 organizations nationwide to assist in fair housing education and enforcement efforts.
This funding will allow the recipients to conduct investigations and testing to identify discrimination in the rental and sales markets, and problems in the filing of fair housing complaints with HUD. It will also be used for education and outreach to inform the public, housing providers and local governments about their rights and responsibilities under the Fair Housing Act.
"The fair housing groups' HUD funds are a critical piece of combatting housing discrimination," Jeanine Worden, acting assistant secretary for fair housing and equal opportunity, said in an announcement released Thursday. "The grants we're announcing today will enable 120 fair housing groups to combat unfair evictions and other housing practices that violate the Fair Housing Act."
These grants are just the latest in the Biden Administration’s efforts regarding housing discrimination enforcement. In federal fiscal year 2019, HUD distributed $15 million through the Fair Housing Initiatives Program, while the following year it made $40.8 million in grants.
In August, HUD entered into a memorandum of understanding with the Federal Housing Finance Agency — the regulator of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Home Loan Banks — to share information and coordinate Fair Housing Act investigations and compliance reviews.
That followed HUD's restoration in June of the Obama Administration's Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule.
The grants are divided into three categories, with the most funds going to the Private Enforcement Initiative. The $34.6 million is being given to 93 organizations which investigate and litigate complaints under the Fair Housing Act.
Another $10.7 million is being distributed to 78 groups for the Education and Outreach Initiative, while $2.2 million is awarded in the Fair Housing Organizations Initiative to 10 groups because of their focus on the rights and needs of underserved populations, including rural and immigrant populations.
Among the groups receiving all three grants are: Legal Aid Society of San Diego; Fair Housing Advocates of Northern California; Connecticut Fair Housing Center; HOPE Fair Housing Center; Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center; High Plains Fair Housing Center; and Housing Opportunities Made Equal of Virginia.
