HUD AWARDS MORE THAN $1 MILLION IN GRANTS TO COMBAT
HOUSING DISCRIMINATION IN MAINE
BOSTON – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today awarded more than $325,000 to Pine Tree Legal Assistance to assist people in Maine who believe they have been victims of housing discrimination. (See Maine grantee information below).
Maine Grantee
Portland
Pine Tree Legal Assistance
Private Enforcement Initiative – Performance Based
Component - $325,000.00
Pine Tree Legal Assistance will use its grant to enforce federal and state laws prohibiting discrimination on behalf of tenants as well as low‐income homeowners in mobile home parks, an important source of homeownership for low‐income Mainers. Testing will be used to identify systemic discrimination against all protected categories, with a special emphasis on discrimination against underserved populations, including individuals in rural areas, individuals with disabilities and those who are immigrants or have limited English proficiency. The organization will conduct education and outreach efforts to strengthen awareness of fair housing laws and protections among protected classes, and strengthen capacity among government and nonprofit partners to enforce and extend fair housing protections for all vulnerable individuals around Maine.
“We are pleased to provide the only federal grant support to private fair housing enforcement and education,” said HUD’s New England Regional Administrator Barbara Fields. Our local partners are essential to ending housing discrimination.”
The competitive grants are funded through HUD’s Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP), and are part of nearly $41.18 million distributed nationwide to 99 fair housing organizations and other non-profit agencies in 35 states and the District of Columbia. The grants will be used to enforce the Fair Housing Act through investigation and testing of alleged discriminatory practices, and to educate housing providers, local governments and potential victims of housing discrimination about their rights and responsibilities under the Fair Housing Act. HUD had over $70 million in requests for FHIP, but funded only $41 million.
FHEO and its partners in the Fair Housing Assistance Program investigate more than 9,300 housing discrimination complaints annually. People who believe they are the victims of housing discrimination should contact HUD at (800) 669-9777 (voice) or (800) 927-9275 (TTY).
