From the Vermont Business Magazine ENews, originally posted on May 9, 2012
The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today awarded more than $324,987 to Vermont Legal Aid, Inc to assist people in Vermont who believe they have been victims of housing discrimination.
Vermont Legal Aid (VLA) will use its grant to conduct a full service, coordinated and comprehensive fair housing program of testing, targeted private enforcement actions, broad systemic investigation, engagement with the land use and transportation planning process, and collaborative efforts to raise public awareness of housing discrimination in Vermont, including public education and advocacy in the State legislature and administrative agencies and in the media.
“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 1-800-669-9777 (voice), or (800) 927-9275 (TTY).
Have an announcement about your nonprofit organization? Email Coordinator@Commongoodvt.org or call Eli Harrington at 802.862.1645 ex. 21 with job postings, requests for funding, or announcements about new grants or staff changes and we’ll be happy to get the word out to Vermont’s nonprofit community!
