HUD awards an additional $200,000 to fight housing discrimination in the District of Columbia

FOR RELEASE

Lisa A. Wolfe

Thursday, May 30, 2019

www.hud.gov/DistrictofColumbia

HUD AWARDS AN ADDITIONAL $200,000 TO FIGHT HOUSING DISCRIMINATION IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA  

WASHINGTON – To help end housing discrimination, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today awarded more than $200,000 to two fair housing organizations in the District of Columbia to protect consumers from housing discrimination. The grants are part of an additional $1.2 million awarded nationwide to support fair housing organizations working to confront violations of the nation’s landmark Fair Housing Act. 

HUD’s grants are provided through the Department’s Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) to help people who believe they have been victims of housing discrimination and to educate the public and housing providers on fair housing laws.

Last month, HUD awarded $15 million to help dozens of similar organizations across the country to conduct a range of fair housing enforcement, capacity building and education and outreach activities.

The National Association of Home Builders of the United States received $109,085 in grants and the Consumer Action Network received $113,225 in funding to support the organizations’ Education and Outreach Initiatives (EOI). The work performed through both grants will benefit District of Columbia residents.

“Our goal is to prevent discrimination in housing from ever happening in the first place,” said Joe DeFelice, Regional Administrator for HUD’s Mid-Atlantic region. “Much work remains to be done, but our united efforts are showing results. I’d like to commend the good work all of our fair housing partners are doing on behalf of those we serve.”

HUD’s FHIP grants support education and outreach activities to enable organizations to help educate the public, housing providers, and local governments about their rights and responsibilities under the Fair Housing Act.

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).

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