HUD Highlights E-Newsletter

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Region X - Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington

April 2007 - Volume 3, Number 4

April is Fair Housing Month
It's been 39 years since the passage of the Fair Housing Act. To recognize this occasion, HUD's Office of Fair Housing & Equal Opportunity (FHEO) has published a new brochure entitled "39 Steps Toward Fair Housing". This document showcases the strides made over the past 39 years to ensure equal access to housing free from discrimination since the Fair Housing Act was signed in 1968.
Read the "39 Steps" brochure on HUD's website

Check your state's web calendar for local Fair Housing events on HUD's website for:

• Alaska
• Idaho
• Oregon
• Washington

Fair Housing: It's Not an Option....It's the Law
That's the theme for Fair Housing Month. Did you know that discrimination based on your race, color, national origin, religion, sex, family status, or disability is against the law? If you feel your housing rights have been violated, you have up to one year to file a Fair Housing complaint with HUD. For more information, call our Fair Housing hotline at (800) 877-0246.
Learn about the Title VIII Fair Housing complaint process on HUD's website.
File a Fair Housing complaint on HUD's website.

Fair Housing Annual Report Issued
This report describes HUD's fair housing enforcement, education, and outreach activities during the year, and the activities conducted under its Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP) and Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP). Last year, HUD and our FHAP agencies received 10,328 housing discrimination complaints, the highest number ever filed in a single year.
Read the Fair Housing Annual Report on HUD's website

Working Together to Promote Fair Housing Among Grant Recipients
HUD's Offices of FHEO and Community Planning and Development (CPD) recently issued a joint memorandum reminding Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and State Block Grant recipients of the statutory requirement to promote fair housing. The memo provides guidance on how they may use administrative and program funds to meet their obligation to identify and address obstacles to fair housing choice in their areas.
Read the memo on HUD's website

Local Fair Housing Office
Did you know that HUD has Fair Housing staff throughout the Northwest who can answer your questions about Fair Housing, and provide guidance on Fair Housing issues? On our local Fair Housing web page, you can sign up for a training class, read our Fair Housing e-newsletter, learn about tenant rights and predatory lending, and more.

Last but not least....
Our annual Super Notice of Funding Availability (SuperNOFA) is in full swing. All grant applications must be submitted electronically through www.grants.gov, with the exception of the Continuum of Care homeless assistance programs. Visit our Funds Available page for more information.

HUD Highlights is an e-newsletter from HUD's Seattle Regional Office about HUD news, upcoming events, program updates and grant opportunities. If you received this newsletter from a friend, and would like to receive your own copy, please sign up for our mailing list.

Questions or comments about HUD Highlights?
HUD Seattle Regional Office, 909 First Avenue, Suite 255, Seattle, WA 98104-1000
(206) 220-5101 or toll-free (877) 741-3281
WA_Webmanager@hud.gov
www.hud.gov or espanol.hud.gov

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