HUD AWARDS MONTANA $167,900 GRANT TO COMBAT HOUSING DISCRIMINATION

HELENA - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today awarded $167,900 to Montana Fair Housing to assist people who believe they have been victims of housing discrimination. Read a complete project-by-project summary of the programs awarded grants.

HUD Regional Administrator Rick M. Garcia said, "The grant announced today in Montana is funded through HUD's Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) and will be used to investigate allegations of housing discrimination, and work to promote equal housing opportunities."

"The Obama Administration is committed to ending housing discrimination, and these grants enable local fair housing and community organizations all over the nation to help HUD enforce the Fair Housing Act, and make people more aware of their fair housing rights," stated HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan.

HUD Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing & Equal Opportunity, John Trasviña added: "Last year, HUD filed more Fair Housing Act charges than any year since 2002," "The Fair Housing Initiatives Program grantees play a vital role to enhance our civil rights law enforcement efforts."

The categories of grants awarded today are:

• Private Enforcement Initiative grants (PEI) - HUD awarded $17.5 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 $4.6 million to groups that educate
  the public and housing providers about their rights and obligations under federal, state, and local fair
  housing laws.
  
  
• Fair Housing Organizations Initiative (FHOI) - HUD awarded $5.9 million to groups that serve rural
  and immigrant populations in areas where there currently is no existing fair housing organization, or are
  otherwise underserved.

FHEO and its partners in the Fair Housing Assistance Program investigate more than 10,000 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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