HUD Awards $24M+ to Fight Housing Discrimination
Two Fla. agencies will receive $425K each – one in C. Fla., one in the Palm Beaches – for fair housing testing and enforcement to eliminate discriminatory practices.
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is allocating $24,195,749.33 from its $56 million fiscal year (FY) 2023 budget to support 57 fair housing organizations across the nation through the Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP). Of those 57, two are in Florida – one in Central Florida and one in the Palm Beaches.
The funds are being directed to HUD’s Private Enforcement Initiative (PEI) to continue ongoing fair housing enforcement endeavors on a national scale. HUD says it’s also extended financial support to the Disability Law Center under the PEI initiative and JC Vision and Associates under the Fair Housing Organization Initiative/Continued Development Component (FHOI/CDC) program.
A detailed breakdown of the awardees categorized by state can be found online.
Florida groups receiving HUD fair housing money
- Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida: Private Enforcement Initiative – Multi Year, $425,000.00
- Fair Housing Center of the Greater Palm Beaches: Private Enforcement Initiative – Multi Year, $425,000.00
“Unfortunately, far too many families face bias when it comes to renting and buying homes,” says HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge. “HUD is pleased to provide our state and local partners with resources like The Fair Housing Initiatives Program that give organizations the funding they need to combat housing discrimination and help build fair and inclusive communities.”
The granted funds empower recipients to carry out fair housing enforcement through a range of activities. These include:
- Conducting investigations
- Implementing testing methodologies to uncover instances of discrimination in both rental and sales markets
- Filing fair housing complaints either with HUD or equivalent state and local agencies
Beyond enforcement, the grantees also have educational and outreach initiatives to educate the general public, housing providers and local government bodies about the rights and obligations outlined in the Fair Housing Act.
“The programs and services provided by the Fair Housing Initiatives Program are essential to HUD’s mission and fulfill a vital role in enforcing the Fair Housing Act,” says Demetria L. McCain, HUD’s Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. “The funds provided today demonstrate HUD’s commitment to opposing discriminatory practices and ensure that our fair housing partners have the financial resources they need to continue educating the public.”
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