The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has allocated $31.7 million from its FY 2024 budget to support 75 fair housing organizations nationwide through the Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP). These funds are designated for second- and third-year multi-year grantees of the Private Enforcement Initiative (PEI) to continue their fair housing enforcement activities on a national scale.
The grant funds will enable recipients to conduct investigations, implement fair housing testing to uncover discrimination in rental and sales markets, and file fair housing complaints with HUD or equivalent state and local agencies. Additionally, grantees will engage in educational and outreach initiatives to inform the public, housing providers, and local government bodies about rights and obligations under the Fair Housing Act.
“Ensuring fair access to quality and affordable housing for people who have been historically discriminated against is one of the foundations of our mission,” said HUD Acting Secretary Adrianne Todman. “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. Today’s awards are providing significant resources to our private partners on the ground.”
HUD is also extending financial support to an additional five grantees—Family Housing Advisory Services, Rogers Park Community Council, Housing Opportunities Project for Excellence (HOPE), Inc., Intermountain Fair Housing Council, Inc., and Fair Housing Council of Riverside County, Inc.—under the Education and Outreach Initiative (EOI) component using $500,000 in unspent funds from the FY 2023 budget.
“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.”
HUD is awarding grants in these categories:
Private Enforcement Initiative (PEI) – This initiative funds non-profit fair housing organizations to conduct testing and enforcement activities aimed at preventing or eliminating discriminatory housing practices.
Education and Outreach Initiative (EOI) – This program supports activities that educate the public and housing providers about equal opportunity in housing compliance with fair housing laws.
A state-by-state breakdown of PEI and EOI awardees is available here.
People who believe they are victims of housing discrimination should contact HUD at (800) 9669-9777 (voice) or (800) 927-9275 (TTY). More information is available at hud.gov/fairhousing.
