MILWAUKEEE -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced today that it is awarding nearly $825,000 under HUD’s Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) to the Metropolitan Milwaukee Fair Housing Council to fight housing discrimination. See chart below for a listing of grant recipients and read summaries here of the activities these organizations will conduct with the grants.
The funding provided through the competitive grants will help to support a range of fair housing enforcement efforts, including fair housing testing, as well as activities that help educate the public, housing providers and local governments about their rights and responsibilities under the Fair Housing Act.
“Combating housing discrimination requires the aggressive enforcement of the nation’s fair housing laws, but HUD can’t do it alone,” said HUD’s Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Gustavo Velasquez. “The funding we are announcing today will enable organizations committed to justice and equality to support our efforts to ensure that everyone has equal access to available housing opportunities.”
“Leveling the playing field and ending housing discrimination are at the core of our mission at HUD,” said HUD Midwest Regional Administrator Antonio R. Riley. “This local funding will help support community-based organizations that are on the front lines in the fight for equity in our nation’s housing market.”
The categories of grant awards are:
The 2015 FHIP Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) established the following six new components:
Under Fair Housing Organizations Initiative grants:
Under Education and Outreach Initiative grants:
Persons 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) 927-9275 (TTY). Housing discrimination complaints may also be filed by going to www.hud.gov/fairhousing, or by downloading HUD’s free housing discrimination mobile application, which can be accessed through Apple devices, such as the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.