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

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today awarded $325,000 to a fair housing organization in Honolulu, Hawaii, 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 Regional Administrator Ophelia Basgal 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 Hawaii recipient is from Honolulu:

Legal Aid Society of Hawaii

FY11 Private Enforcement Initiative –

Multi-Year Component - $325,000

The Legal Aid Society of Hawaii's (LASH) 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 O'ahu. 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.

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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 @HUDnews, on facebook at www.facebook.com/HUD, or sign up for news alerts on HUD's News Listserv.