On Monday, September 21st, HUD announced it’s giving additional funding to 15 Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP) agencies. The total amount awarded is over $500,000 to Fair Housing agencies. The agencies span across 12 states. This funding is to support activities related to COVID-19. This funding is part of the $1.5 million in Partnership and Special Enforcement Effort funds provided through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
A list of the states and organizations receiving the funds:
Connecticut
- The Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities is receiving $17,176. It’s to conduct research and partner with advocacy organizations to carry out education and outreach activities. It’s also to produce public service announcements on fair housing laws and COVID-19 related health disparities associated with where people live.
Indiana
- The Indiana Civil Rights Commission is receiving $55,000. It’s to conduct COVID-19 related fair housing tests and partner with four state agencies to develop and distribute COVID-19 related fair housing material. The Evansville-Vanderburgh County Human Relations Commission is receiving $8,634.95. It’s to purchase technology that will improve the agency’s ability to function in a 100% remote environment.
Iowa
- The Iowa Civil Rights Commission is receiving $48,682. It’s to partner with government agencies and organizations to provide COVID-19 related fair housing information to refugee communities adversely affected by the virus. It’s also to purchase office equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE) for staff engaged in COVID-19 related fair housing activities.
Maine
- The Maine Human Rights Commission is receiving $35,439. It’s to collaborate with non-profit and faith-based organizations/stakeholders, and community and landlord groups to discuss COVID-19 related fair housing issues. It’s also to purchase technology that will improve the agency’s ability to function in a 100% remote environment.
Nebraska
- The Lincoln Commission on Human Rights is receiving $20,302. It’s to conduct fair housing tests related to COVID-19 and hire an additional staff person. It’s also to purchase technology that will allow the agency to operate in a 100% remote environment.
New York
- The Westchester County Human Relations Commission is receiving $33,530. It’s to fund the hiring of a fair housing investigator to assist with processing its backlog of cases and investigate COVID-19 related complaints.
North Carolina
- The City of Durham Human Relations Division is receiving $3,862. It’s to purchase technology that will improve the agency’s ability to function in a 100% remote environment.
Ohio
- The Ohio Civil Rights Commission is receiving $37,245. It’s to conduct remote interviews and purchase technology that will improve the agency’s ability to function in a 100% remote environment. The City of Dayton Human Relations Council is receiving $25,000. It’s to develop an app and web-based platform relating to COVID-19 and fair housing. It’s also to hire an additional staff person to conduct COVID-19 related outreach to faith-based and community organizations.
Tennessee
- The Tennessee Human Rights Commission is receiving $48,423. It’s to partner with Habitat for Humanity of the Greater Memphis area to produce COVID-19 related educational broadcasts and to conduct a radio campaign educating citizens of their fair housing rights related to COVID-19. It’s also to purchase technology that will improve the agency’s ability to function in a 100% remote environment.
Texas
- The Corpus Christi Human Relations Commission is receiving $29,525. It’s to create an instructional video and web pages, conduct a social media campaign, and create a fair housing mailout related to COVID-19. Its also to send texts informing citizens of their fair housing rights as they relate to COVID-19. The City of Austin Equal Employment and Fair Housing Office is receiving $8,862.78. It’s to purchase technology that will improve the agency’s ability to function in a 100% remote environment.
Vermont
- The Vermont Human Rights Commission is receiving $24,595. It’s to produce COVID-19 related fair housing educational videos, conduct a social media campaign, and produce radio and print ads informing citizens of their fair housing rights related to COVID-19. It’s to also purchase technology that will improve the agency’s ability to function in a 100% remote environment.
Washington
- The Washington State Human Rights Commission is receiving $133,148. It’s to hire additional staff to address the impact of COVID-19 related loss of capacity. It’s to also purchase technology that will improve the agency’s ability to function in a 100% remote environment.
“These organizations are extremely knowledgeable about the communities they serve and how COVID-19 is affecting housing choices, but they need financial resources to address the issues they are seeing… The funds being provided today will allow them to provide additional COVID-19 related fair housing outreach and purchase the equipment and technology they need and to conduct the wide-ranging types of activities, which will ensure that families have equal access to housing during this challenging period.” – Anna María Farías, HUD’s Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity.
This $500,000 to Fair Housing agencies continues the active support and relief that HUD is putting towards those affected by COVID-19. In June, HUD gave out $1 million in CARES Act funding to 19 FHAP organizations. And starting in April, HUD began allocating waves of relief funds to assist those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read more about how HUD is awarding the $500,000 to Fair Housing agencies in the official press release.
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