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MortgagePoint » Your Trusted Source for Mortgage Banking and Servicing News 64 May 2024 J O U R N A L HUD COMMEMORATES FAIR HOUSING MONTH WITH $30M AWARD TO ADDRESS DISCRIMINATION I n honor of Fair Housing Month and the signing of the Fair Housing Act of 1968, which outlaws discrim- ination on the grounds of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), disability, and familial status, Adrianne Todman, Acting Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban De- velopment (HUD), released the following statement: "For more than half a century, the federal government has sought to end discrimination in housing through enforcement of the Fair Housing Act. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, the Department of Housing and Urban Development takes its responsibilities under that law and other civil rights laws very seriously and works diligently to ensure people have full access to housing that meets their needs. … Everyone in this country deserves to live free from discrimination, bias, and danger. This Fair Housing Month, we are recommit- ting ourselves to the important work of protecting individuals and families across America from harm." National Fair Housing Month Kicks Off With $30M Grant Fair Housing: The "Act" in Action, this year's theme for Fair Housing Month, highlights the Biden-Harris administration's dedication to ending housing discrimination, defending the right to fair housing for all residents of Government the United States, and correcting histori- cal discriminatory practices and policies. "This April, we reflect on the hard-fought battle for fair housing and recommit efforts to eliminate discrimi- nation and disparities in housing across our country" said Demetria L. McCain, Principal Deputy Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. "This month and every month, HUD is taking meaningful action to advance housing justice and protect the rights of all people to live free from discrimination in the homes of their choice, regardless of their race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation or gender identity), disability, or familial status." In order to highlight the importance of the Fair Housing Act, increase public awareness of fair housing rights and responsibilities, highlight fair housing enforcement efforts, and stress the value of fostering diverse and inclusive com- munities, HUD observes Fair Housing Month each April in collaboration with communities, advocates, and fair hous- ing organizations. In addition to kicking off National Fair Housing Month, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has announced the award of over $30 million to fair housing organizations across the country under its Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP). The grants will support the efforts of national, state, and local fair housing entities working to address violations of the Fair Housing Act and to end discrimination in housing. "HUD is committed to rooting out any and all forms of discrimination in housing, not just through words, but through real resources," HUD Acting Secretary Adrianne Todman said. "Today, we're awarding more than $30 million to help our partners on the ground educate the public, eliminate discriminatory housing practices, and fully enforce the Fair Housing Act." The grant funding will allow the grantees to provide fair housing en- forcement by conducting investigations, testing to identify discrimination in the rental and sales markets, and filing fair housing complaints with HUD or substantially equivalent state and local agencies. In addition, grantees will con-