HUD AWARDS MORE THAN $400,000 TO MARYLAND TO FIGHT HOUSING DISCRIMINATION

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded today $449,411 to two fair housing organizations in Baltimore in an effort to reduce housing discrimination. This funding is part of $38.3 million HUD awarded to 95 fair housing organizations and other nonprofit 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."

Jane C.W. Vincent, Regional Administrator of HUD's Mid-Atlantic region, 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."

Project Summaries:
  
Baltimore Metropolitan Council, Inc.
Education and Outreach Initiative
General Component - $125,000

Baltimore Metropolitan Council (BMC) will use its grant to contract or partner with public and private fair housing groups to conduct fair housing education and outreach. Education activities will include trainings for attorneys, real estate agents, landlords, property managers, and other housing professionals on fair housing; meetings and workshops to educate elected officials and high-level jurisdictional staff on their duty and responsibility to affirmatively further fair housing; and trainings for local housing counseling agency staff to better equip them to educate their clients on their fair housing rights. In addition, BMC will develop and distribute a comprehensive series of written materials targeted to various audiences, including tenants, prospective homebuyers, real estate agents, homeowner and condominium associations, and property managers and work with the Maryland Multi-Housing Association to improve online information on available rental units, including affordable units that have accessibility features for people with mobility impairments.

Baltimore Neighborhoods, Inc.
FY11 Private Enforcement Initiative
Multi-Year Component - $324,411

Baltimore Neighborhoods, Inc. (BNI) will use its grant to continue its ongoing activities of monitored testing, investigating fair housing complaints, mediating disputes between complainants and landlords, litigating fair housing cases, and disseminating information about fair housing laws. BNI will expand its fair housing activities to other jurisdictions throughout the state, focusing on the Eastern Shore, and Prince George's, Carroll, and Anne Arundel counties, which will enable it to create systemic investigations of housing 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 asa 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.