Funding to support and promote fair housing nationwide
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced today that it made $29.5 million in noncompetitive funding available on June 14 to HUD’s state and local fair housing enforcement agencies across the country under its Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP). The FHAP is an intergovernmental partnership between the federal government and state and local agencies to provide protection to the public against discrimination in housing. The funding to State and local enforcement agencies supports fair housing complaint investigations and education and outreach activities to inform the public, housing providers, and local governments about their rights and responsibilities under both the Fair Housing Act and state and local fair housing laws.
“This funding notice is crucial as it supports local organizations in the fight to root out housing discrimination in their communities,” said HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge. “It is HUD’s mission to combat unlawful housing discrimination, and programs like the Fair Housing Assistance Program give communities the resources necessary to protect them from all acts of housing discrimination”
Fiscal year 2023’s funding supports the efforts of 77 State, county, and city agencies that administer fair housing laws that provide rights, remedies, and procedures that are substantially equivalent to those provided by the federal Fair Housing Act.
“Our FHAP agencies play a pivotal role in our enforcement efforts to address discrimination and inequality in today’s housing market,” said Demetria L. McCain, HUD’s Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. “Discriminatory actions in an attempt to prevent fair and equal housing based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), disability, and familial status should not be tolerated in our society, and these agencies are essential partners in fighting against discrimination at the state and local levels.”
Through this funding cycle, HUD is providing an approximate 6.5% increase in both Case Processing Fund reimbursement rates and Administrative Cost Funds temporarily introduced last year, which are the two main sources of FHAP funding provided annually to the Department’s agency partners. In addition, HUD is making a total of $1.5 million in Partnership funds available to support eligible FHAP agencies to partner with community organizations on targeted testing, and education and outreach activities. HUD has also expanded the scope and use of Special Enforcement Effort funds to make $1.1 million available to support the effort of agencies to create effective hybrid work environments to conduct fair housing enforcement work, a necessity during the coronavirus pandemic.
To learn more about how a state or local jurisdiction can become a Fair Housing Assistance Program, visit the Department’s FHAP website. People who believe they have experienced discrimination may file a complaint by contacting HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity at (800) 669-9777 (voice) or (800) 877-8339 (Relay). Housing discrimination complaints may also be filed by going to hud.gov/fairhousing.