The Department of Housing and Urban Development last week awarded $31.7 million to support 75 fair housing organizations in their efforts against discrimination.
The funds are being distributed from the department’s fiscal year 2024 budget through the Fair Housing Initiatives Program.
“Although separate from Section 202 [Supportive Housing for the Elderly] funding, these awards will promote fair access to quality and affordable housing for people who have been historically discriminated against, including our nation’s seniors,” a spokesperson from HUD told the McKnight’s Business Daily.
The funds are meant to help recipients to carry out fair housing enforcement as well as engage in educational and outreach initiatives to educate members of the public, housing providers and local governmental bodies about the rights and obligations outlined in the Fair Housing Act and the fair housing services that grantees provide.
“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 stated in a press release. “As part of our commitment to promote inclusive communities around the country, we support local governments and private organizations to ensure they have the tools they need to enforce the Fair Housing Act.”
Todman added that the grants are “providing significant resources to our private partners on the ground.”
In addition to the almost $32 million in grants, the department has allocated $500,000 in unspent funds from the fiscal year 2023 budget under the Education and Outreach Initiative component to support five additional organizations: the Family Housing Advisory Services, the Rogers Park Community Council, Housing Opportunities Project for Excellence, the Intermountain Fair Housing Council and the Fair Housing Council of Riverside County.
“The Fair Housing Initiative Program continues to be a bedrock for empowering our state and local partners in advancing fair housing at the grassroots level,” said Diane M. Shelley, HUD’s principal deputy assistant secretary for fair housing and equal opportunity. “The funds provided today will drive meaningful progress and create lasting positive impact within the communities we serve.”
A state-by-state breakdown of all grantees is available on the HUD website.
