HUD ANNOUNCES $99,800 TO HELP FIGHT HOUSING DISCRIMINATION IN KENTUCKY

LOUISVILLE, KY - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today presented $99,800 to the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights (KCHR) to conduct fair housing education and outreach in Kentucky. Krista Mills, HUD Louisville Field Office director made a Fair Housing Initiative Program (FHIP) grant presentation to KCHR executive director John J. Johnson.

"The Kentucky Commission on Human Rights is proud to be a recipient of this HUD FHIP grant that will allow us to provide critical programming as Kentucky looks to a bright future founded on a wealth of diversity and cooperation," said executive director Johnson.

In fiscal year 2007, HUD awarded 88 grants totaling $17.1 million awarded to recipients in 37 states and the District
of Columbia to help fight housing discrimination.

"In 2007 there were over 10,000 housing discrimination complaints filed with HUD and its state and local partners," said Kim Kendrick, HUD's assistant secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. "These grants will allow us to continue with efforts to educate the public and the housing industry about their rights and responsibilities under
the Fair Housing Act."

The grants presented are funded through HUD's Fair Housing Initiatives Program, and will be used to investigate allegations of housing discrimination, educate the public and the housing industry about their rights and
responsibilities under the Fair Housing Act, and work to promote equal housing opportunities.

These grants were awarded under one of two initiatives:

• Private Enforcement Initiative grants (PEI) - HUD awarded $14 million to help groups investigate alleged housing discrimination, and enforce the Fair Housing Act and state and local laws that are substantially equivalent to the Act.
  
  
• Education and Outreach Initiative grants (EOI) - HUD awarded $3.1 million to groups that educate the public and housing providers about their rights and obligations under federal, state, and local fair housing
  laws.

FHEO and its partners in the Fair Housing Assistance Program investigate approximately 10,000 housing discrimination complaints annually. People who believe they are the victims of housing discrimination should contact HUD at (800) 669-9777 (voice), (800) 927-9275 (TTY). Stay on top of the most up-to-date news regarding the Fair Housing Act
by signing up for the FHEO RSS Feed. A list of all the grant recipients is available on the HUD website.

HUD is the nation's housing agency committed to increasing homeownership, particularly among minorities;
creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans; and supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and people living with AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development and enforces the nation's fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the
Internet and espanol.hud.gov.

For further information contact Deborah Knight, HUD Louisville Office Public Affairs Coordinator, at (502) 618-8129
and by email addressed to Deborah.L.Knight@hud.gov, or you may contact Victoria Dempsey, KCHR Director of Communications and Legislative Affairs at (502) 641-0760 and/or by email addressed to Victoria.Demsey@ky.gov.

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Summary of the Fair Housing Initiative Grant in Kentucky

The Kentucky Commission on Human Rights (KCHR) will conduct a series of workshops designed to educate persons with disabilities, housing providers, mortgage lenders, housing advertisers, and underserved immigrant communities
in Eastern and Southern Kentucky about the Fair Housing Act. As part of its education effort, KCHR will translate
fair housing materials into Vietnamese, French, Russian, and Arabic languages, and distribute the materials at international/immigrant group festivals, health fairs and housing fairs. KCHR will also conduct a fair housing
conference in both Eastern Kentucky and Bowling Green and will produce and distribute fair housing posters.