HUD AWARDS A $325 THOUSAND HOUSING DISCRIMINATION GRANT TO COMBAT HOUSING DISCRIMINATION IN HAWAII

SAN FRANCISCO - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today awarded $325,000.00 to the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii to assist people in the state who believe they have been victims of housing discrimination.

The Honolulu-based Legal Aid Society of Hawaii project summary:

Private Enforcement Initiative - Multi-Year - Component: $325,000

The Legal Aid Society of Hawaii's Fair Housing Enforcement Program will use its grant to conduct a full service enforcement program for fair housing. Specific areas of concentration include increasing systemic testing in sex and gender discrimination; increasing systemic testing for accessibility and structural violations; and expanding testing statewide with a focus on recruitment and training for testers on islands other than Oahu. Education and outreach activities will include participating in statewide education and outreach for Fair Housing Month, providing fair housing law education and outreach to individuals, including persons with disabilities, and to agencies servicing persons with disabilities, and distributing outreach brochures in English and other languages.

"We are pleased to provide the only federal grant support to private fair housing enforcement and education," said HUD's Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity John Trasviña. "Our local partners are essential to ending housing discrimination."

The competitive grants are funded through HUD's Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP), and are part of nearly $41.18 million distributed nationwide to 99 fair housing organizations and other non-profit agencies in 35 states and the District of Columbia. The grants will be used to enforce the Fair Housing Act through investigation and testing of alleged discriminatory practices, and to educate housing providers, local governments and potential victims of housing discrimination about their rights and responsibilities under the Fair Housing Act. HUD had over $70 million in requests for FHIP, but funded only $41 million.

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 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
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