The


U.S.
Department
of
Housing
and
Urban
Development
(HUD)
on
Friday
announced
the
availability
of
$26
million
in
funding
to
be
distributed
to
state
and
local
housing
agencies
to
enforce

fair
housing
practices
and
to
combat
discrimination.

The
money
will
be
distributed
via
noncompetitive
funding
for
HUD’s
state
and
local
fair
housing
enforcement
agencies
across
the
nation
under
the
Fair
Housing
Assistance
Program
(FHAP),
which
is
described
as
“an
intergovernmental
partnership
between
the

federal
government
and
state
and
local
agencies”
to
protect
the
public
against

housing
discrimination,
HUD
explained
in
its
announcement.

The
funding
round
will
support
fair
housing
complaint
investigations,
as
well
as
education
and
outreach,
to
“inform
the
public,
housing
providers,
and
local
governments
about
their
rights
and
responsibilities
under
both
the
Fair
Housing
Act
and
state
and
local
fair
housing
laws.”

“One
of
HUD’s
most
important
priorities
is
to
ensure
that
we
root
out
any
and
all
forms
of
discrimination
in
housing,
but
we
cannot
do
this
work
without
our
partners
on
the
ground,”
HUD
acting
secretary

Adrianne
Todman
said
in
the
announcement.
“Today,
we’re
making
$26
million
more
available
to
enforce
the
Fair
Housing
Act
and
ensure
fair
housing
for
all.”

The
funding
will
support
77
different
state,
county
and
city
agencies
charged
with
enforcing
fair
housing
laws
under
the
Fair
Housing
Act.
A
full
list
of
FHAP
agencies
can
be
viewed
on

HUD’s
website.

Alisa
Warren,
president
of
the

International
Association
of
Official
Human
Rights
Agencies,
which
comprises
FHAP
agencies,
said
the
funding
will
be
crucial
to
enforcing
fair
housing
laws.

“These
vital
funds
provide
essential
support
to
state
and
local
jurisdictions
dedicated
to
the
effective
enforcement
of
fair
housing
laws
in
collaboration
with
HUD,“
Warren
said
in
a
statement.
“FHAP
agencies
are
actively
engaged
in
human
rights
implementation
within
communities
to
safeguard
individuals
against
discrimination
and
by
leveraging
the
law
in
their
jurisdiction.“

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