HUD AWARDS $234,297 TO UTAH TO FIGHT HOUSING DISCRIMINATION

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today awarded $234,297 to a fair housing organization in Utah in an effort to reduce housing discrimination. This funding is part of $38.3 million HUD awarded today to 95 fair housing organizations and other non-profit agencies in 38 states.

Funded through HUD's Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP), these grants will help enforce the Fair Housing Act through investigation and testing of alleged discriminatory practices. In addition, the funds will educate housing providers, local governments and potential victims of housing discrimination about their rights and responsibilities under the Fair Housing Act.

"Ending housing discrimination requires that we support the law of the land and protect the housing rights of individuals and families who would be denied those rights," stated HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. "Ensuring and promoting Fair Housing practices lies at the core of HUD's mission and these grants enable community groups all over the nation to help families who are denied equal access to housing."

HUD Rocky Mountain Regional Administrator, Rick M. Garcia added: "No one should be denied the opportunity to live where they want because of how they look, their faith, whether they have children or because they have a disability. These grants will help us continue our efforts to educate the public and housing industry about their housing rights and responsibilities."

The Disability Law Center (DLC) will use its grant to expand its current fair housing services. The DLC is the protection and advocacy agency for people with disabilities in the State of Utah. To date, fair housing complaints and litigation have focused only on disability status, and the grant will enable DLC to include all protected classes.

Fair housing services offered will include education and outreach, self-advocacy training, legal representation, filing complaints, and fair housing testing. The DLC will recruit more fair housing testers, the number of tests performed each year, and expand its scope of testing to the entire state. DLC's education and outreach activities will focus on educating the community about fair housing laws. The DLC will continue to partner with other agencies with an investment in fair housing to address systemic issues, such as Good Landlord Programs and discrimination against select groups.

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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 asa 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.