HUD AWARDS $1.7 MILLION TO NEW YORK STATE TO FIGHT HOUSING DISCRIMINATION
7 local agencies to receive Fair Housing Initiatives Program Funding

NEW YORK - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development just awarded $1,729,444 to seven New York State non-profit groups to assist people who believe they have been victims of housing discrimination. The grants
are part of over $26 million awarded nationwide to 98 fair housing organizations and other non-profit agencies to
help combat housing discrimination. (Summaries of New York State grantees are attached).

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.

"In 2010, the fight for fair housing across America continues. The organizations we are funding are respected and trusted groups that emerged from a very competitive process," stated John Trasviña, HUD's Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing Equal Opportunity. "They will help HUD enforce the law and educate the public about their rights and responsibilities under the law."

The categories grants were awarded in are:

• Private Enforcement Initiative grants (PEI) - HUD awarded $21.1 million nationwide 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 nationwide 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 $2.1 million nationwide 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 approximately 10,000 housing
discrimination complaints annually. People who believe they are the victims of housing discrimination should contact HUD at (800) 669-9777 (voice), (800) 927-9275 (TTY). Additional information is available online. Stay on top of the most up-to-date news regarding the Fair Housing Act by signing up for the FHEO RSS Feed.

New York State Grantees

The Fair Housing Justice Center
New York
Private Enforcement Initiative - General Component - $274,991
The Fair Housing Justice Center will use its grant to provide fair housing intake counseling, investigative services,
and legal referrals to individuals and organizations with allegations of housing discrimination in the New York City metropolitan area. FHJC will also conduct fair housing outreach and complaint intake, and conduct investigations, including testing, in response to housing discrimination complaints, make referrals to administrative agencies and/or attorneys, and provide post-referral legal assistance. In addition, FHJC will conduct systemic rental tests in New
York City, recruit and train testers, provide fair housing education to cooperating attorneys and student interns,
and maintain critical partnerships with local agencies and organizations.

Housing Opportunities Made Equal, Inc. (HOME)
Buffalo
Private Enforcement Initiative - Performance Based - $263,846.33
HOME will use its grant to vigorously provide fair housing enforcement services in the Buffalo-Niagara region. Some
of the activities of this 3 year project will include: intake of 360 allegations of discrimination; conducting testing activities; filing 18 verified complaints w/HUD and FHAP; mediating 36 valid discrimination cases; conducting 12 training sessions for staff of 2 grass-roots/faith-based organizations and 2 minority servicing institutions; and administering a Revolving Litigation Fund, through previous FHIP grants, to provide fair housing litigation costs.

Legal Assistance of Western NY, Inc.
Rochester
Private Enforcement Initiative - General Component - $222,199
Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc., will use its grant to continue the work of its Fair Housing Enforcement Project for the Finger Lakes Region (FHEP) in urban Monroe County (City of Rochester and its suburbs) and in five surrounding rural counties. The proposed rural area testing component was the first of its kind in New York State when it was launched in January 2009. Complaints from the five county rural area surrounding Geneva will be investigated by the testing coordinator, utilizing paired tests when appropriate, and referred to LAWNY attorneys
for enforcement when discriminatory practices are corroborated.

Long Island Housing Services, Inc.
Long Island
Private Enforcement Initiative - Performance Based - $275,000
Long Island Housing Services will use its grant to conduct enforcement activities in Nassau and Suffolk Counties in New York. The focus of the project will be to enforce fair housing for individual victims of housing discrimination and prevent further victimization by identifying and eliminating patterns of discriminatory policies and practices. Special emphasis will be given to four of the most sorely affected populations on Long Island; people with disabilities,
blacks, Hispanics (especially those who are not English proficient), and families with children.

Neighborhood Economic Development and Advocacy Project
New York
Education and Outreach - General Component - $100,000
NEDAP will use its grant to reach out to and educate grassroots faith-based and other community organizations
and residents about fair housing discrimination and fair lending issues in their communities; facilitate discovery and referral of fair lending and fair housing complaints to HUD in order to reduce the practice of housing and lending discrimination, to include abusive lending and real estate schemes, redlining and other housing discrimination against Latinos, African-Americans, and other ethnic and racial groups; reach out to seniors, new immigrant families, and individuals with disabilities; and prevent foreclosures and help stabilize communities.

South Brooklyn Legal Services, Inc
Brooklyn
Private Enforcement Initiative - General Component - $275,000
South Brooklyn Legal Services will use its grant to generate and accept referrals of clients alleging housing discrimination in home financing and sales in New York City. Legal Services also will screen, investigate and analyze
all complaints through a testing methodology that will allow it to identify both individual discrimination and patterns
of discrimination; refer meritorious housing discrimination complaints to HUD; and provide legal and other assistance
to help targeted homeowners avoid foreclosure.

South Brooklyn Legal Services, Inc.
Brooklyn
Fair Housing Organizations Initiative - Mortgage Rescue Scam Component - $318,408
South Brooklyn Legal Services will use its grant to generate and accept referrals of clients alleging discrimination
in home financing and sales in New York City; screen, investigate and analyze all complaints through a testing methodology that will allow the organization to identify both individualized discrimination and patterns of discrimination; refer meritorious housing discrimination complaints to HUD; conduct enforcement litigation; and
provide legal representation and other assistance to help targeted homeowners avoid foreclosure.

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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.