HUD AWARDS HAWAII FUNDS TO FIGHT HOUSING DISCRIMINATION

SAN FRANCISCO - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced today that it has awarded $35,000 to Hawaii Civil Rights Commission (HCRC) to enforce fair housing laws and help communities and housing providers to better understand their fair housing rights and responsibilities. The funds, part of more than $7.5 million distributed nationwide today, will also be used to promote the Department's new Equal Access to Housing regulation, which ensures that HUD housing and programs are open to all families, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status.

"Today's announcement demonstrates the Obama Administration's commitment to ending housing discrimination, no matter what form it takes," said John Trasviña, HUD Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. "With these funds, state and local government agencies on the front line of the fight will be able to continue their efforts to take on today's many fair housing challenges."

$25,000 - HCRC will partner with the Medical-Legal Partnership for Children of Hawaii to conduct targeted fair housing outreach to immigrants from the Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Marshall Island, and Republic of Palau, who under various treaties are allowed to work and live in Hawaii, but never achieve full citizenship rights, and because of their limited language proficiency are unlikely to know of their fair housing rights.

$10,000 - HCRC will partner with Translation & Interpreting Services to translate fair housing documents for LEP populations, including alternative form material suitable for populations with limited written language proficiency.

In awarding the funds, which are provided through HUD's Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP), HUD is responding to requests and suggestions from state and local government agencies that are seeking to partner with organizations that will assist in fair housing enforcement and outreach. The funds will help local communities learn more about their fair housing rights and housing providers meet their fair housing obligations, including those related to HUD's new Equal Access to Housing regulation.

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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 at www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov. You can also follow HUD on Twitter at @HUDnews or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HUD, or sign up for news alerts on HUD's News Listserv.