this U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced Friday it will provide $26 million in funding to state and local housing agencies to enforce fair housing practices and combat discrimination.
The funds will be allocated through non-competitive funding to HUD’s state and local fair housing enforcement agencies under the Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP), which is described as an “intergovernmental partnership between the federal government and state and local agencies.” , to protect the public against housing discrimination, HUD explained in its announcement.
The funding round will support fair housing complaint investigations and education and advocacy to “inform the public, housing providers and local governments of their rights and responsibilities under the Fair Housing Act and state and local fair housing laws.”
“One of HUD’s most important priorities is ensuring we root out any form of discrimination in housing, but we can’t do this work without our partners on the ground,” Acting Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Adrian Todman said in the announcement. “Today, we are adding $26 million to enforce the Fair Housing Act and ensure fair housing for all.”
This funding will support 77 different state, county and municipal agencies responsible for enforcing fair housing laws under the Fair Housing Act. A complete list of FHAP agencies can be viewed on the HUD website.
Alexa Warren, President international association of official human rights institutionsFHAP, which is made up of FHAP agencies, said the funding is critical to enforcing fair housing laws.
“These important funds provide essential support to state and local jurisdictions committed to working with HUD to effectively enforce fair housing laws,” Warren said in a statement. “FHAP agencies are actively engaged in human rights enforcement within their communities to Protect individuals from discrimination and make use of the laws within their jurisdiction.”
