CITY OF BILLINGS AWARDED $99,923 GRANT TO HELP FIGHT HOUSING DISCRIMINATION

WASHINGTON - The City of Billings received a Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) grant of $99,923. The City of Billings will work with 47 organizations to conduct fair housing education and outreach activities designed to reduce discrimination in the greater Billings area. The collaborative effort, which will specifically target Billings' American
Indian population, will work to promote universal design and accessibility, remove regulatory barriers to housing opportunities, and implement a faith-based initiative directed at eliminating homelessness among families. The City
of Billings was selected by The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which awarded 88 grants totaling $17.1 million to recipients in 37 states and the District of Columbia to help fight housing discrimination.

"Last year there were a record 10,328 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, funded through HUD's Fair Housing Initiatives Program, 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.

This year's 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 9,000 housing
discrimination complaints annually. People who believe they are the victims of housing discrimination should contact HUD at 1-800-669-9777 (voice), 1-800-927-9275 (TTY). Stay on top of the most up-to-date news regarding the
Fair Housing Act by signing up for the FHEO RSS Feed.

NOTE: A list of all the grant recipients is available on the HUD's website.

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