HUD AWARDS NEW ORLEANS $450,000 TO FIGHT HOUSING AND LENDING DISCRIMINATION
Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center, Inc. Receives Grants

NEW ORLEANS - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today awarded the Greater New Orleans
Fair Housing Action Center, Inc (GNOFHAC), awards totaling $450,000 to educate the public and combat housing and lending discrimination.

Nationally, a total of $40.8 million was awarded to 108 fair housing organizations and non-profit agencies in 36 states and the District of Columbia, a $13.2 million increase over last year's award. Ten million dollars of that will fund activities that address lending discrimination, including mortgage rescue scams.

"The record increase in support to local fair housing and community organizations demonstrates the Obama Administration’s firm commitment to ending housing discrimination and providing help to families victimized by
mortgage scams," stated HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan.

The grants announced today are funded through HUD's Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) 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. The New Orleans grants are in the following categories:

• Private Enforcement Initiative grants (PEI) - HUD awarded the GNOFHAC $325,000 to support investigations into alleged housing discrimination, and to enforce the Fair Housing Act and state and local laws that are substantially equivalent to the Act. It will also use the funding to conduct testing to protect individuals living in minority neighborhoods from mortgage rescue scams.
  
  
• Education and Outreach Initiative grants (EOI) - HUD awarded the GNOFHAC $125,000 to educate the public and housing providers about their rights and obligations under federal, state, and local fair housing laws. It will also conduct fair lending workshops, community meetings, and individual counseling activities focused on homeowners at risk for discrimination.

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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.