HUD (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) is making $30 million in funding available for fair housing enforcement to local and state partners through the Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP) to support and promote fair housing nationwide, according to a release.
“The money goes to the 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,” HUD said in the release.
“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.”
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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.
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