HUD AWARDS OVER $300,000 TO OKLAHOMA TO FIGHT HOUSING DISCRIMINATION

OKLAHOMA CITY - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today awarded a grant to the Metropolitan Fair Housing Council of Oklahoma for $324,479 in an effort to reduce housing discrimination. This funding is part of $38.3 million HUD awarded today to 95 fair housing organizations and other nonprofit agencies in 38 states.

Funded through HUD's Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP), these grants will help enforce the Fair Housing Act through investigation and testing of alleged discriminatory practices. In addition, the funds will educate housing providers, local governments and potential victims of housing discrimination about their rights and responsibilities under the Fair Housing Act.

"Ending housing discrimination requires that we support the law of the land and protect the housing rights of individuals and families who would be denied those rights," stated HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. "Ensuring and promoting Fair Housing practices lies at the core of HUD's mission and these grants enable community groups all over the nation to help families who are denied equal access to housing.

Regional Administrator Tammye Treviño added, "No one should be denied the opportunity to live where they want because of how they look, their faith, whether they have children or because they have a disability. These grants will help us continue our efforts to educate the public and housing industry about their housing rights and responsibilities."

The Metropolitan Fair Housing Council of Oklahoma, Inc. (MFHC) will use its grant to expand MFHC's current statewide fair housing enforcement activities to increase complaint referrals to HUD using fair housing testing and other HUD-approved enforcement tools to gather evidence and investigate complaint-based and systemic complaints, including accessibility audits of covered, multi-family housing.

MFHC also will partner with public and private organizations in Oklahoma to provide fair housing and fair lending education for low-and moderate-income persons, persons with disabilities, the LGBT community, veterans, the elderly, minorities, housing providers, faith-based communities, families with children, persons who are non-English Speaking or have limited English proficiency and natural disaster victims about.

Visit HUD's website for a listing of FHIP grants nationwide.

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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 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.