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A Helping Hand from HUD

Department of Housing and Urban DevelopmentThe Department of Housing and Urban Development announced on Wednesday that its continuing its commitment to fighting discrimination in housing by making available grants totally $38 million through its Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP). The funding supports multiple fair housing activities, including testing, outreach activities, public education, and building capacity.

The FHIP is an effort by HUD to bring together fair housing organizations and other nonprofits to assist people that believe they’ve fallen victim to discrimination. Organizations send out testers—who are both non-Hispanic whites and minorities—with the same financial qualifications to see if they are treated differently when looking for housing opportunities.

This year’s funds are available through three different initiatives, as follows:

Under the category of the Education and Outreach Initiatives (EOI), the HUD has made available grants totaling $7,450,000 for the education of the general public as well as housing providers about individual rights and lender responsibilities as put forth under federal law. This grant money will also support local and state organizations in the enforcement of fair housing laws that mirror the Fair Housing Act. One million dollars will also be dedicated to a national media campaign.

In the Fair Housing Organizations Initiative (FHOI), which strives to build up nonprofit organizations and increase their effectiveness, will have a total of $500,000 in grants to disseminate. HUD is particularly interested in organizations that focus on underserved populations, such as rural areas and immigrants.

Finally, the Private Enforcement Initiative (PEI) grants will continue to offer a total of $30.35 million to organizations that handle claims of housing discrimination under the Fair Housing Act, including testing, intake, investigations, and litigation.

Qualified organizations are encouraged to apply through grants.gov. EOI grants should search FR-6100-N-21-A; FHOI grants search FR-6100-N-21B; and PEI grants should search FR-6100-N-21C.

The deadline for HUD to receive applications is September 18, 2017.

About Author: Joey Pizzolato

Joey Pizzolato is the Online Editor of DS News and MReport. He is a graduate of Spalding University, where he holds a holds an MFA in Writing as well as DePaul University, where he received a B.A. in English. His fiction and nonfiction have been published in a variety of print and online journals and magazines. To contact Pizzolato, email [email protected].
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