HUD AWARDS $100,000 TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO HUD PROGRAMS BY FAMILIES WITH LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded $100,000 to Equal Rights Center in Washington, D.C. This award helps support local organizations serving diverse communities across
the country that will help ensure persons who are limited English proficient (LEP) have access to information in their native languages on HUD housing, programs, services and activities.

"Partnering with organizations that work directly with limited English proficient persons helps HUD provide more effective and efficient services to people who are limited English proficient," said John Trasviña, HUD Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. "How well people speak English must not determine their access to safe, affordable, and decent housing free from discrimination. Through these partnerships, HUD will ensure that the LEP individuals and families have meaningful access to information on fair housing, homeownership, lead abatement, housing assistance, and countless other services."

In coordination with local HUD grantees, the recipient will use the funds to, help provide access to HUD services for limited English proficient individuals who speak Spanish, French, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Amharic, and Korean throughout the Washington, D.C. region. The Equal Rights Center plans to provide particular emphasis on disseminating information on fair housing rights and the HUD services available to protect those rights. Some of ERC's proposed programs and services include developing seven fair housing presentations and trainings on HUD programs, services, and activities that are to be held in conjunction with the D.C. Office of Human Rights; and translating, printing, and distributing more than 10,000 bilingual fair housing brochures promoting fair housing rights and
resources.

The Equal Rights Center (ERC) plans to help provide access to HUD services for limited English proficient individuals who speak Spanish, French, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Amharic, and Korean throughout the Washington, D.C. region.
The ERC plans to provide particular emphasis on disseminating information on fair housing rights and the HUD services available to protect those rights. Some of ERC's proposed programs and services include developing seven fai
r housing presentations and trainings on HUD programs, services, and activities that are to be held in conjunction
with the D.C. Office of Human Rights; and translating, printing, and distributing more than 10,000 bilingual fair
housing brochures promoting fair housing rights and resources.

"Being able to communicate with our customers is critical to helping limited English proficient persons be successful in finding safe, decent and affordable homes," said Jane C. W. Vincent, HUD Regional Administrator. "Region III will remain vigilant in its efforts to help those who speak another language to get the information they need to make informed decisions."

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) offers a Limited English Proficiency website to
promote equal access to housing programs by providing important HUD documents in 12 different languages. HUD's expanded Limited English Proficiency (LEP) website features factsheets, housing brochures and other forms in Amharic, Arabic, Armenian, Cambodian, Chinese, Farsi, French, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Tagalog, and
Vietnamese in addition to English. The site offers brochures on fair housing, model lease agreements, information about HUD's Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8), and Resident Rights and Responsibilities.

The LEP initiative is in response to Executive Order 13166, which requires all federal, local and state agencies that receive federal funding to ensure that people with limited language skills have meaningful access to government programs and services.

###

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 at www.hud.gov and http://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.