HUD helped boost the fight against illegal housing discrimination in America with the announcement of $20.3 million in grants to fair housing groups in 78 cities around the country. The groups will use the funds to investigate allegations of housing discrimination, educate the public and housing industry about housing discrimination laws, and work to promote fair housing. The grants are funded under HUD's Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP).

"These fair housing grants will help meet the Bush Administration's goal of increasing minority homeownership by 5.5 million families by the end of the decade," Secretary Martinez explained. "Every American should have equal access to housing opportunities and today's announcement is another step in that direction."

The funds will be used in three major areas:

• Private Enforcement Initiative - About $12.2 million was awarded for 12-18 month grants of up to $275,000 to assist private, tax-exempt fair housing enforcement organizations in the investigation and enforcement of alleged violations of the Fair Housing Act and substantially equivalent State and local fair housing laws.
• Education and Outreach Initiative - About $6.3 million was allocated for one-year grants of up to $100,000 to inform and educate the public about the rights and obligations under federal, state and local fair housing laws. About $825,000 of the grant money, which went to 10 groups, is specifically going to programs that have a special focus on the fair housing needs of persons with disabilities, so that housing providers, the general public, and persons with disabilities themselves better understand their rights and obligations.
• Fair Housing Organizations Initiative - About $1.8 million was awarded for three-year grants of up to $350,000 per year for projects that serve rural and immigrant populations in areas where there currently is no existing fair housing organization, or are otherwise under-served.

HUD received applications from 225 groups for the fiscal year 2002 assistance, and FHIP grants were awarded to 99 groups. Read project descriptions of grant awards in individual communities, by state.

A recent HUD study shows that housing discrimination has gone down over the last decade in America but still exists at unacceptable levels. Discrimination in Metropolitan Housing Markets: Phase I researched in 20 metropolitan areas nationwide, shows that housing discrimination against African Americans and Hispanics looking to buy a home is down more than 25 percent since 1989. For those seeking to rent a unit, housing discrimination against African Americans is down 18 percent, but is unchanged for Hispanics.

Read the full news announcement.

Anyone who believes they have experienced housing discrimination is asked to call HUD's Housing Discrimination Hotline at (800) 669-9777.