HUD AWARDS NEW JERSEY $325,000 TO COMBAT HOUSING DISCRIMINATION

NEW YORK - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today awarded the Fair Housing Council of Northern New Jersey based in Hackensack, $325,000 to assist people in 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 local 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 distributed nationwide to 99 fair housing organizations and other non-profit 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 under the Fair Housing Act. HUD had over $70 million in requests for FHIP, but funded only $41 million.

The Fair Housing Council of Northern New Jersey will use its grant to serve the entire state of New Jersey to conduct rental/sales tests; intake, investigate, process and refer FHIP complaints of Title VIII violations to HUD; recruit and train testers and provide tester training to the Council's non-FHIP staff; distribute fair housing flyers to community groups, faith based organizations, local shops, markets and any place where people in need of fair housing services are likely to congregate; address (in-person) religious, veteran, disability advocacy and community groups; and purchase newspaper, print and journal ads to advertise the project and its services. The areas of concentration will focus on (but not be limited to) some sections in the south and northeast where previous systemic testing revealed a high level of discrimination against minorities of color, families and persons with disabilities.

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 1-800-669-9777 (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 espanol.hud.gov. You can also follow HUD on Twitter at @HUDnews or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HUD, or sign up for news alerts on HUD's News Listserv.