HUD AWARDS MORE THAN $1.2 MILLION IN GRANTS TO COMBAT HOUSING DISCRIMINATION IN TEXAS
Austin, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio Receive Grants

FORT WORTH - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today awarded nearly $1.2 million to four fair housing organizations to assist people in Texas who believe they have been victims of housing discrimination.

"We are pleased to provide the only federal grant support to private fair housing enforcement and education," said HUD's Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity John Trasviña. "Our partners are essential to ending housing discrimination."

The competitive grants are funded through HUD's Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP), and are part of nearly $41.18 million that was distributed today nationwide to 99 fair housing organizations and other nonprofit 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.

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

Austin
Austin Tenants Council, Inc.
Private Enforcement Initiative Grant - $324,723

The Austin Tenants' Council (ATC) will use its grant to provide testing and legal resources in support of investigating fair housing complaints through testing. ATC will also use its resources to identify discrimination and help complainants enforce their rights under the Fair Housing Act. Additionally, it will specifically focus on issues surrounding the rights of disabled persons and the rights of recent immigrants to the United States.

Dallas
North Texas Fair Housing Center
Fair Housing Organizations Initiative Grant - $261,589

The North Texas Fair Housing Center (NTFHC) will use its grant to support the continued development of NTFHC's enforcement and outreach programs and to support the development of a lending investigations program. Significantly, NTFHC will conduct race and familial status tests, and will test new construction to determine compliance with the Fair Housing Act's accessibility requirements. Notably, they will develop a lending investigation program and pursue potential sustainable cases of discrimination by filing complaints with HUD.

Houston
Greater Houston Fair Housing Center, Inc.
Private Enforcement Initiative Grant - $325,000

The Greater Houston Fair Housing Center (GHFHC) will use its grant to provide fair housing enforcement services in the Houston metropolitan area. The activities include: complete bilingual full service enforcement capability in English and Spanish; processing complaints of allegations of housing discrimination; conducting investigations; developing systematic investigations; recruiting and training testers; and performing fair housing enforcement tests. In addition, GHFHC will conduct Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) capacity building programs for individuals from local partners, non-profits and faith based organizations.

San Antonio
San Antonio Fair Housing Council, Inc.
Private Enforcement Initiative Grant - $325,000

The San Antonio Fair Housing Council, Inc (SAFHC) will use its grant to conduct preliminary investigations of fair housing claims through various investigative methods, including conducting systemic investigations, resident surveys, rental tests, sales tests, and lending tests. These initiatives will take place in 35 counties in South Texas.

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).

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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.