HUD AWARDS ALMOST $1.2 MILLION TO FIGHT HOUSING DISCRIMINATION IN IDAHO, OREGON & WASHINGTON
5 Northwest Fair Housing Organizations Among 92 Nationwide to Win $21.8 Million in HUD Fair Housing Initiative Program Funds

SEATTLE - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today awarded $1,181,555 in grants to five
fair housing organizations in Idaho, Oregon and Washington to assist people who believe they have been victims
of housing discrimination.

In today's announcement, the Intermountain Fair Housing Council Inc. in Idaho won a grant for $274,796, the Fair Housing Council of Oregon won $275,000. Legal Aid Services of Oregon won $81,759, the, Fair Housing Center of Washington won $275,000 and the Northwest Fair Housing Alliance, also in Washington, won $275,000.

The almost $1.2 million in awards were part of a total of $21.8 million in awards nationwide to 92 fair housing and other non-profits agencies in 37 states and the District of Columbia.

"These Fair Housing Initiatives Program grants will help us continue our efforts to educate the public, the housing industry, real estate professionals and financial institutions about their rights and responsibilities under the Fair Housing Act," said Kim Kendrick, HUD's Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. "Our local
partners are critical not only in enforcing the law but in reinforcing the message - housing discrimination is illegal
and HUD will take action to eliminate it."

The categories grants were awarded in are:

• Private Enforcement Initiative grants (PEI) - HUD awarded $20 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 $1.3 million to groups that educate
  the public and housing providers about their rights and obligations under federal, state, and local fair
  housing laws.
  
  
• Education and Outreach Initiative (EOI) - Clinical Law School Component - HUD awarded $500,000
  to Howard University Law School to organize and operate a fair housing legal-clinic education program.

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 at www.hud.gov/fairhousing. Stay on top of the most up-to-date news regarding the Fair Housing Act by signing
up for the FHEO RSS Feed.

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HUD is the nation's housing agency committed to increasing homeownership, particularly among minorities; creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans; and supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and people living with AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development and enforces the nation's fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet
and espanol.hud.gov.