HUD AWARDS $325,000 TO GEORGIA TO FIGHT HOUSING DISCRIMINATION

ATLANTA - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today awarded $325,000 to Metro Fair Housing, Services, Inc., East Point, Georgia 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 non-profit 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."

HUD Southeast Regional Administrator Ed Jennings, Jr. 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."

Metro Fair Housing Services, Inc. (Metro) will use its grant to continue its core fair housing activities in the greater Atlanta MSA and open a satellite office in the northern region of Gwinnett County to provide greater access in bordering areas and in areas with large Latino communities that include Forsyth, Hall, Barrow, and Jackson Counties and the northern end of Fulton and DeKalb Counties. Activities will include a full-scale fair housing program that includes education and outreach, complaint intake, and systemic testing; the filing bona fide fair housing complaints with HUD and collaborations with faith-based and community organizations.

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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.