HUD AWARDS $650,000 IN GRANTS TO COMBAT HOUSING DISCRIMINATION IN TENNESSEE

KNOXVILLE - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today awarded $650,000 to two fair housing organizations to assist people in Tennessee who believe they have been victims of housing discrimination. (See list of Tennessee grantees below).

West Tennessee Legal Services, Inc. will use its grant to provide statewide full service, broad-based comprehensive fair housing enforcement services to all protected classes in all markets, with emphasis on services for underserved populations. Activities will include: analysis of housing related issues, complaint intake, investigation of allegations of discrimination, complaint based and systemic testing, evaluation of test results, mediation services, and enforcement of meritorious claims through litigation and/or the administrative process and/or refer to appropriate agencies; develop and distribute fair housing literature and PSAs in English and Spanish; conduct fair housing workshops for a variety of audiences.

The Tennessee Fair Housing Council will use its grant to provide enforcement activities in Davidson, Cheatham, Dickson, Rutherford, Sumner, Williamson, and Wilson Counties of Tennessee, and education and outreach activities throughout Tennessee. Specific activities will include: comprehensive fair housing services; testing in the areas of rental, sales, accessibility and zoning; group home operators and other provider trainings, "Community Fair Housing Partnership" trainings, and multifamily owner/operator training; two fair housing conferences (a Tennessee Fair Housing Matters Conference and the Annual ECHO Fair Housing Conference); and the printing and distribution of two publications on NIMBYism and group homes.

"These federal grants are essential to ending housing discrimination through a unique federal grant support to private fair housing education and enforcement," said HUD Southeast Regional Administrator Ed Jennings, Jr. "We are laser focused on attacking and ending housing discrimination."

The competitive grants are funded through HUD's Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP), and are part of nearly $41.18 million distributed nationwide to 99 fair housing organizations and other non-profit agencies in 35 states and the District of Columbia. The grants will be used to enforce the Fair Housing Act through investigation and testing of alleged discriminatory practices, and to educate housing providers, local governments and potential victims of housing discrimination about their rights and responsibilities under the Fair Housing Act. HUD had over $70 million in requests for FHIP, but funded only $41 million.

HUD is awarding FHIP grants to the following agencies in Tennessee:

FHEO and its partners in the Fair Housing Assistance Program investigate more than 9,300 housing discrimination complaints annually. People who believe they are the victims of housing discrimination should contact HUD at (800) 669-9777 (voice), or (800) 927-9275 (TTY).

###

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 http://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.