HUD AWARDS $626,781 TO CONNECTICUT TO FIGHT HOUSING DISCRIMINATION

BOSTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today awarded $626,781 to the Connecticut Fair Housing Center, Inc. in Hartford, in an effort to reduce housing discrimination. This funding is part of $38.3 million HUD awarded today to 95 fair housing organizations and other nonprofit agencies in 38 states.

Funded through HUD's Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP), these grants will help enforce the Fair Housing Act through investigation and testing of alleged discriminatory practices. In addition, the funds will educate housing providers, local governments and potential victims of housing discrimination about their rights and responsibilities under the Fair Housing Act.

"Ending housing discrimination requires that we support the law of the land and protect the housing rights of individuals and families who would be denied those rights," stated HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. "Ensuring and promoting Fair Housing practices lies at the core of HUD's mission and these grants enable community groups all over the nation to help families who are denied equal access to housing."

Barbara Fields, HUD New England Regional Administrator added, "No one should be denied the opportunity to live where they want because of how they look, their faith, whether they have children or because they have a disability. These grants will help us continue our efforts to educate the public and housing industry about their housing rights and responsibilities."

The Connecticut Fair Housing Center, Inc. (Center) will use its $325,000 grant to provide the full range of core fair housing services including intake, investigation, testing, and litigation of fair housing cases and systemic testing and investigations. The Center will serve individuals of all protected classes with an emphasis on discrimination based on race or ethnicity in the rental, home sales and lending markets; individuals with disabilities seeking housing and requesting reasonable modifications and accommodations; and the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community to determine if there is evidence of sex discrimination in the housing market.

The Center also received a $301,781 grant and will use it to conduct intake, process complaints, and assist and/or provide legal advice to at-risk homeowners on fair lending, mortgage modifications, and foreclosure issues and partner with local organizations to educate homeowners about discriminatory practices in foreclosure and lending, including mortgage modification processes/mortgage rescue abuse. Also, the Center will advocate with state and federal regulators and others involved in overseeing loan servicers to ensure that there is language access for LEP homeowners. Lastly, the Center will investigate whether there is a systemic problem with discrimination against women and people with disabilities, and, where appropriate, file complaints with HUD, the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, or in court.

FHEO and its partners in the Fair Housing Assistance Program investigate more than 9,300 housing discrimination complaints annually. People who believe they are the victims of housing discrimination should contact HUD at (800) 669-9777 (voice), or (800) 927-9275 (TTY).

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HUD's mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD is working to strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the need for quality affordable rental homes: utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life; build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination; and transform the way HUD does business. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet and espanol.hud.gov. You can also follow HUD on twitter @HUDnews, on facebook at www.facebook.com/HUD, or sign up for news alerts on HUD's News Listserv.