HUD AWARDS OVER $40 MILLION IN GRANTS TO FIGHT HOUSING DISCRIMINATION
Montana to receive $301,652 in FHIP grants

HELENA - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today awarded $40.8 million to 108 fair housing organizations and non-profit agencies in 36 states and the District of Columbia to educate the public and combat housing and lending discrimination. Two awards were announced for Montana.

Montana Fair Housing, Inc. was awarded $176,652 under the Private Enforcement Initiative (PEI), and will use its grant to assist in the elimination of impediments to fair housing in Montana's State Analysis of Impediments. Specifically, MFH will conduct intake and referral, mediate cases; recruit and train testers, conduct testing and other research activities to identify discriminatory housing practices and monitor the design and construction of new multi-family buildings. MFH will provide outreach through educational opportunities to advocates, housing consumers and housing providers. MFH will work with veterans, minority serving institutions, local and state agencies, and organizations serving protected class members, furthering visibility and universal design concepts in housing construction or rehabilitation and developing decent, affordable, energy efficient design to affirmatively further fair housing.

The City of Billings was awarded $125,000 under the Education and Outreach Initiative (EOI), and will use its grant
to facilitate collective fair housing education efforts through a public-private partnership. The City will provide overall administrative and financial support and all partnering organizations will assist in the development of new fair housing educational materials and the presentation of materials through workshops, counseling sessions and varying media forms. The collaborators represent educational efforts targeting various populations, including: American Indians; individuals experiencing poverty; elementary school students; homeless families with children; and others protected under the Fair Housing Act. Two organizations will work with disabled populations that are not readily recognized as protected classes in our community: individuals in addiction recovery; and individuals diagnosed with either HIV or AIDS.

This year's award represents a $13.2 million increase over last year's award and includes $10 million to 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.

"Ending housing discrimination takes more than the efforts of Washington," said John Trasviña, HUD's Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing & Equal Opportunity. "These grants enable community groups all over the nation to help HUD enforce the Fair Housing Act, make the public more aware of their fair housing rights and ensure that housing providers understand their responsibilities under the law."

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 categories grants were awarded in include:

• Private Enforcement Initiative grants (PEI) - HUD awarded $28 million to support organization that investigate alleged housing discrimination, and enforce the Fair Housing Act and state and local laws that are substantially equivalent to the Act. Groups 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 $6.8 million to organizations that educate the public and housing providers about their rights and obligations under federal, state, and local fair housing laws. Groups 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. 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.