HUD AWARDS $775,000 TO NEW ORLEANS TO FIGHT HOUSING DISCRIMINATION
Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center receives three Fair Housing Initiative Program Grants

NEW ORLEANS - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today awarded a total of $775,000 to the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center (GNOFHAC) to assist people in New Orleans who believe they have been victims of housing discrimination.

"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 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 that was distributed today nationwide to 99 fair housing organizations and other nonprofit 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.

The three categories of FHIP grants awarded by HUD to GNOFHAC are as follows:

Private Enforcement Initiative (PEI) Lending - $325,000 

GNOFHAC will use these funds to expand its fair lending related services to the greater New Orleans area through intake and case management of complaints regarding potential victims of lending discrimination. It will provide foreclosure prevention counseling to pursue loan workouts, refinancing, or loan modifications. The agency will also use this grant to conduct a forensic review of three years of Homeownership Protection Project housing counseling case files and provide enforcement action.

Private Enforcement Initiative (PEI) Multi-Year - $325,000

As the only qualified Fair Housing Organization in the State, the organization will use these funds to investigate housing discrimination throughout Louisiana.

Education and Outreach Initiative (EOI) Lending - $125,000

GNOFHAC will use these grant funds to expand fair lending related education and outreach services in Louisiana.

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 http://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.