HUD AWARDS $99,101 TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO HUD PROGRAMS BY FAMILIES WITH LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY IN PHILADELPHIA, PA

PHILADELPHIA - Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded $99,101 to Equal Rights Center in Philadelphia, PA. This award helps support local organizations serving diverse communities across
the country that will help ensure persons who are limited English proficient (LEP) have access to information in their native languages on HUD housing, programs, services, and activities.

"Partnering with organizations that work directly with limited English proficient persons helps HUD provide more effective and efficient services to people who are limited English proficient," said John Trasviña, HUD Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. "How well people speak English must not determine their access to safe, affordable, and decent housing free from discrimination. Through these partnerships, HUD will ensure that the LEP individuals and families have meaningful access to information on fair housing, homeownership, lead abatement, housing assistance, and countless other services."

In coordination with local HUD grantees, the recipient will use the funds to provide assistance in six different languages including Arabic, Burmese, Chinese, Karen (Burma), and Nepali. The Lutheran Children and Family Services
is a refugee resettlement organization that currently serves limited English proficient communities throughout Southeastern and Central Pennsylvania. Some of the proposed activities and services include conducting trainings
and disseminating HUD materials to seven county areas in ethnic communities and refugee service providers through the Bureau of Employment and Training Programs in Pennsylvania; and providing training to HUD grantees, county,
and municipality administrative offices.

"Being able to communicate with our customers is critical to helping limited English proficient persons be successful in finding safe, decent and affordable homes," said Jane C. W. Vincent, HUD Regional Administrator. "Region III will remain vigilant in its efforts to help those who speak another language to get the information they need to make informed decisions."

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) offers a Limited English Proficiency website to
promote equal access to housing programs by providing important HUD documents in 12 different languages. HUD's expanded Limited English Proficiency (LEP) website features factsheets, housing brochures and other forms in Amharic, Arabic, Armenian, Cambodian, Chinese, Farsi, French, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Tagalog, and
Vietnamese in addition to English. The site offers brochures on fair housing, model lease agreements, information about HUD's Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8), and Resident Rights and Responsibilities.

The LEP initiative is in response to Executive Order 13166, which requires all federal, local and state agencies that receive federal funding to ensure that people with limited language skills have meaningful access to government programs and services.

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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.