On Monday, April 20th, HUD announced it was awarding $1.5 Million in partnership and Special Enforcement Effort funds to HUD Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP) agencies to support COVID-19 education activities. These partnership funds allow FHAP to use products/services of individuals, and public/private non-profit and for-profit organizations that have experience enforcing federal, state, and local fair housing laws. The funds are being provided through the CARES Act. There’s a release that explains the funds’ “Purpose and Eligible Uses, Agency Eligibility, Maximum Award, Deadline, Application Procedure, and the Distribution and Control of Funds.”

“Addressing potential fair housing issues related to COVID-19 will require resources that extend beyond the federal government. FHAP agencies not only have expertise in conducting a range of fair housing enforcement activities, they are especially attuned to how particular issues are affecting their communities.” –Anna María Farías, HUD’s Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity

Some examples of the activities being funded are things like the development of technology to provide COVID-19 related education and outreach online and on social media platforms to people of different backgrounds.

The availability of funds to FHAP agencies will eventually be addressed with detailed instructions from HUD. These agencies enforce state and local laws that are substantially equivalent to the Fair Housing Act.

“The Fair Housing Act embodies the spirit of this great Nation where everyone is entitled to equal opportunity and respect. As we battle this invisible enemy, we need to be attentive to the heightened protections and needs of family, friends and neighbors who are older, have disabilities, or pre-existing medical conditions. We also need to honor and support, not evict out of fear, the medical professionals and caregivers who selflessly go to the front line to serve and heal. We must be creative and compassionate to keep each other safely sheltered, healthy and prepared. Right now, in the spirit of fair housing, we need to be the best neighbors we can be for one another.” –HUD Secretary Ben Carson

If anyone feels that they have been discriminated against in their housing situation, they may file a complaint with HUD by calling HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity at (800) 669-9777 or by visiting How to File a Complaint on HUD’s website. There is also assistance for people with limited English proficiency. And people who are deaf or hard of hearing can contact the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339.

Check out HUD’s Coronavirus information and resources page. It includes the President’s Guidelines, a Coronavirus Fact Sheet, as well as a list of everyday practices and strategies to help prevent infection and the spread of the virus.