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Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Descriptions

CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE

14.400: Equal Opportunity in Housing

Objectives: To provide fair housing throughout the United States; create an administrative enforcement system which is subject to judicial review.

PROGRAM AND AWARD FINANCIAL AND INFORMATION CONTACTS

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO.

APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS INFORMATION CONTACTS

RELATED PROGRAMS ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS

PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS

14.400 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility: Any aggrieved person, or the Assistant Secretary, may file a complaint based on an alleged discriminatory housing practice because of race, color, religion, sex, familial status, handicap, or national origin. The complaint may be filed with the Department of Housing and Urban Development or a State or local fair housing agency with processes, procedures and remedies substantially equivalent to those of the Department, and which the Department has approved. An individual may file a suit in a Federal court; seek injunctive relief, actual damages, or punitive damages together with court costs and reasonable attorney fees. Litigation may be initiated by the individual, the Department on behalf of the individual or, under certain conditions, by the Attorney General.

Beneficiary Eligibility: Individuals.

Credentials/Documentation: Not applicable.

14.400 APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

Preapplication Coordination: This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure: Complaints may be sent to any HUD Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, Field Office, or to HUD's Washington office.

Award Procedure: None.

Deadlines: An administrative complaint must be filed within one year of the alleged discriminatory act. A court action may be filed within two years of the discriminatory act.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time: Not applicable.

Appeals: Not applicable.

Renewals: Not applicable.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals: Not applicable.

Examples of Funded Projects: Not applicable.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance: Not applicable.

14.400 RELATED PROGRAMS:

16.103 Fair Housing and Equal Credit Opportunity;
16.200 Community Relations Service.

14.400 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

As of September 30, 1999, HUD and State and local agencies, with substantial equivalent laws, received 103,491 cases, since the program was implemented in 1989. During fiscal year 1999, HUD received 7,196 cases, State and local agencies received another 3,895 cases. Many of these cases were settled, achieving relief for the complainants and commitments to conduct activities which would further fair housing. Settlements by both HUD and the State and local agencies had a total monetary value of about $8.3 million (does not include HUD ALJ or DOJ closure of HUD complaints).

14.400 FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO:

Federal Agency: OFFICE OF FAIR HOUSING AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

Type of Assistance: Investigation of Complaints.

Obligations: (Salaries and expenses) Not separately identifiable.

Budget Account Number: 86-0143-0-1-999.

Authorization: Fair Housing Act, 42 U.S.C. 3600 et seq.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature: "Fair Housing It's Your Right," English (HUD-1686-FHEO); Part 103; Administrative Proceedings Under Section 812 of the Fair Housing Act, 24 CFR Part 104; Fair Housing Administrative Meetings Under The Fair Housing Act, 24 CFR Part 106; Nondiscrimination and Equal Opportunity in Housing Under Executive Order 11063, 24 CFR Part 107; Compliance Procedures for Affirmative Fair Housing Marketing, 24 CFR Part 108; Fair Housing Poster, 24 CFR Part 110; Certification of Substantially Equivalent Agencies, 24 CFR 115; Preamble to Final Rule Implementing Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988, 24 CFR Ch I, Subch. A, App I; Fair Housing Accessibility Guidelines, 24 CFR Ch I, Subch. A, App II; Affirmative Fair Housing Marketing Regulations, 24, CFR Part 200 Subpart M; Implementation of the Equal Access to Justice Act in Administrative Proceedings, 24 CFR Part 14; and Executive Order 12892, Discrimination in HUD Programs and Activities Receiving Assistance under Title I of the Housing & Community Act of 1974, 24 CFR Part 6. Implementation of the Housing for Older Persons Act of 1995, 24 CFR Part 100. Leadership and Coordination of Fair Housing in Federal Programs: Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing. A variety of educational and promotional materials related to Fair Housing are available by calling the Fair Housing Clearinghouse at 1- 800-343-3442.

14.400 INFO CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office: HUD Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog.

Headquarters Office: Juan Milanes, Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th St., S.W., Room 5206, Washington, DC 20410. Phone: (202) 708-0836. Toll-free number for filing complaints: 1-(800) 669-9777 (V) or 1-(800) 927-9275 (TTY).

(See Appendix IV for more contact info.)

14.400 ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements: This program has no statutory formula.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance: Not applicable.

Uses and Use Restrictions: With limited exceptions, no housing offered commercially for sale or rental, may be advertised, sold, leased out, financed or appraised in a manner which discriminates on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, handicap or familial status (the presence of children under the age of 18 in a household or a pregnant woman). In addition, housing providers and others must allow reasonable modifications to units and provide reasonable accommodations when these are necessary to allow a person with a disability full housing rights. Finally, multi-family housing built for occupancy after March 13, 1991, must comply with the Accessibility Guidelines established. Complaints of discrimination are investigated and conciliated. When conciliation is unsuccessful and where investigation indicates discrimination, complainants are provided legal representation and an opportunity to take their compliant to an Administrative law judge or to federal district court. (The Department of Justice represents complainants in cases heard in Federal District Court). Conferences and training sessions are held to explain rights and responsibilities under the law to attorneys, developers, the real estate industry and the general public.

14.400 POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports: Not applicable.

Audits: Not applicable.

Records: Not applicable.