FEDERAL AGENCY:

OFFICE OF FAIR HOUSING AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

AUTHORIZATION:

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

OBJECTIVES:

To provide fair housing throughout the United States and an administrative enforcement system which is subject to judicial review.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Investigation of Complaints. Place Cursor Here for Definition

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, disability 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 reasonable cause to believe that discrimination occurred or is about to occur, complainants may pursue their complaints before an Administrative law judge or in federal district court. (The Department of Justice litigates on behalf of complainants in federal district court, or HUD litigates on their behalf in the administrative forum. Also 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.

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, disability, 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.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   Not applicable.

Credentials/Documentation:   Not applicable.

Pre-application 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 with HUD within one year of the alleged discriminatory act.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   Not applicable.

Appeals:   Depends upon result of complaint processing.

Renewals:   Not applicable.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

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

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   Not applicable.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   Not applicable.

Audits:   Not applicable.

Records:   Not applicable.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:   86-0143-0-1-999.

Obligations:   (Salaries and expenses) Not separately identifiable.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  
No Data Available.

During fiscal year 2000, HUD received 5,304 cases, State and local agencies received another 2,568 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 approximately $8.5 million (does not include HUD ALJ or DOJ closure of HUD complaints).

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

Regulations implementing the Fair Housing Act, 24 CFR Part 100; "Fair Housing It's Your Right," English (HUD-1686-FHEO); Fair Housing - Complaint Processing, 24 Part 103; Administrative Proceedings Under Section 812 of the Fair Housing Act, 24 CFR Part 180; Consolidated HUD Hearing Procedures for Civil Rights Matters Certification of Substantially Equivalent Agencies, 24 CFR 115; Preamble to Final Rule Implementing Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988, 54 Fed. Rg 3232 (1989); CFR Ch I, Subch. A, App II.

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:   None. HUD Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog.

Headquarters Office:   Turner Russell, 451 7th Street, S.W., Room 5208, Washington, District of Columbia 20410 Email: TurnerRussell@hud.gov Phone: 202-402-5995

Web Site Address:  
http://www.hud.gov/complaints/housediscrim.cfm

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

Not applicable.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

Not applicable.