The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded $38 million under its Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) to confront discriminatory housing practices.

Of that $38 million, $2 million will go to local Florida agencies that carry out investigations and test for illegal activities under the Fair Housing Act. An additional $300,000 is earmarked for education and outreach.

HUD provided competitive funding in three categories: Private Enforcement Initiative grants (PEI), Education and Outreach Initiative grants (EOI) and Fair Housing Organizations Initiative grants (FHOI). In Florida, no agency received an FHOI grant.

“Working closely with our fair housing partners on the ground, the investments we make today are a strong step forward to put an end to housing discrimination,” says HUD Secretary Julián Castro.

Grant categories:

• Private Enforcement Initiative grants (PEI): These help nonprofit fair housing enforcement organizations carry out investigations and other enforcement activities to prevent or eliminate discriminatory housing practices.

• Education and Outreach Initiative grants (EOI): These grants go to groups that educate the public and housing providers about their rights and responsibilities under federal law, or state and local fair housing laws that are substantially equivalent to the Fair Housing Act.
• Fair Housing Organizations Initiative grants (FHOI): These grants help build the capacity and effectiveness of non-profit fair housing organizations to continue and enhance enforcement of the Fair Housing Act.

Florida agencies receiving fair housing funds:

• Florida Bay Area Legal Services (PEI): $300,000
• Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida (PEI): $300,000
• Fair Housing Center of the Greater Palm Beaches (PEI): $300,000
• Fair Housing Continuum (PEI): $300,000
• Housing Opportunities Project for Excellence (PEI): $300,000
• Jacksonville Area Legal Aid (PEI): $424,979
• Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County (EOI): $125,000
• Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County (PEI): $300,000

From http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/article.cfm?p=2&id=343565