The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded funds out of its 2024 budget to support 75 fair housing organizations. The funds, issued through the agency’s Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP), were directed toward second- and third-year multiyear grantees of the Private Enforcement Initiative.

The grant funds will empower the recipients to carry out fair housing enforcement through a range of activities, including conducting investigations, implementing fair housing testing to uncover instances of discrimination in both rental and sales markets, and taking the necessary steps to file fair housing complaints either with HUD or local fair housing agencies, the agency stated. The funds will also help these entities engage in educational and outreach initiatives for the public, housing providers, and local government bodies about rights and obligations under the Fair Housing Act and what services that grantees provide.

“Ensuring fair access to quality and affordable housing for people who have been historically discriminated against is one of the foundations of our mission,” HUD Acting Secretary Adrianne Todman said in a release. “As part of our commitment to promote inclusive communities around the country, we support local governments and private organizations to ensure they have the tools they need to enforce the Fair Housing Act.”

HUD also announced extensions of financial support to five additional grantees under the Education and Outreach Initiative (EOI) component: the Family Housing Advisory Services, Rogers Park Community Council, Housing Opportunities Project for Excellence (HOPE), Inc., Intermountain Fair Housing Council, Inc., and Fair Housing Council of Riverside County, Inc. The department used $500,000 in unspent funds from the 2023 budget to do so.

“The FHIP continues to be a bedrock for empowering our state and local partners in advancing fair housing at the grassroots level,” HUD Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Diane Shelley said. “The funds provided today will drive meaningful progress and create lasting positive impact within the communities we serve.”