Act Now: Continue to Pressure Congress to Support Strong Fair Housing Enforcement Funding in FY '25

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Act Now: Continue to Pressure Congress to Support Strong Fair Housing Enforcement Funding in FY '25

With the start of a new Congress and over 60 new House members and 12 new Senators having been sworn in, it remains critical to continue engagement encouraging Congress to provide the highest possible funding for HUD programs, full funding fair housing enforcement programs.

Now is not the time to cut critical funding for fair housing enforcement programs. In 2023 – the most recent reporting year for comprehensive fair housing complaint data – 34,150 fair housing complaints were received by private fair housing organizations, FHAP agencies, HUD and DOJ, representing the highest number of complaints ever reported in a single year, 3.5 percent higher than the number of complaints reported in 2022.

As the nation continues to grapple with one of the worst fair and affordable housing crises in its history, persistent housing discrimination, and increased homelessness, advocates must continue to pressure Congress to provide the highest possible amount for HUD appropriations and fully fund our nation’s fair housing enforcement programs for FY ‘25. And Congress must act to appropriately fund these much-needed programs.

Why is this important? Because where you live matters. It is more than just an address, as place is inextricably linked to opportunity: where we live determines our access to fresh air, clean water, well-resourced schools, healthcare facilities, reliable transportation, good jobs, quality internet service, and much more. Congress must work diligently to support the work happening on the ground to help victims of housing discrimination and protect access to opportunity, including fair and affordable housing. To do that, Congress must provide the following fair housing enforcement funding:

$125 million for the Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP).
$36.6 million for Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP).
$153 million for salaries to support 1,125 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) staff at HUD's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity.

Act now to tell Congress to provide the highest possible funding for HUD programs, fully funding fair housing enforcement programs!

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Act Now: Continue to Pressure Congress to Support Strong Fair Housing Enforcement Funding in FY '25

U.S. Senate

Subject: Support Strong Fair Housing Enforcement Funding in FY '25

Message:

Dear Senator [ADD YOUR MEMBER'S NAME], As you continue to work through the FY ’25 appropriations process, I am reaching out to ask that you support the highest possible level of funding for HUD programs for FY ’25, fully fund our nation’s fair housing enforcement programs, and defend HUD’s ability to fully enforce the Fair Housing Act. In 2023 – the most recent reporting year for comprehensive fair housing complaint data – 34,150 fair housing complaints were received by private fair housing organizations, FHAP agencies, HUD and DOJ, representing the highest number of complaints ever reported in a single year, 3.5 percent higher than the number of complaints reported in 2022. Specifically, in 2023 FHIP funded organizations processed 75.52 percent of all complaints filed in 2023, and FHAP agencies processed 19.26 percent of all complaints. Together, these organizations and agencies investigate and handled 95 percent of reported instances of housing discrimination, each playing a crucial role in helping individuals and families who have felt the destabilizing effects of housing and lending discrimination, and appraisal bias. Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) funding is the only federal resource for local, nonprofit, private enforcement and fair housing services, and I am requesting $125 million for FY ‘25 to increase grant awards for multi-year enforcement grants, strengthen education and outreach grants, and begin creating private fair housing groups in areas not served by a full-service fair housing group. The Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP) also plays an important role in handling fair housing cases filed under state and local laws, and I urge you to fight for $36.6 million for FHAP. This increase would strengthen funding for local and state government civil rights agencies for their processing and investigation of cases they receive from us, the public, or those that are referred to them by HUD. HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) has seen consistent understaffing, delaying complaint investigations. These delays have caused great harm to HUD’s implementation of the Fair Housing Act. I am requesting $153 million to support 1,125 Full-Time-Equivalent staff at HUD’s FHEO. I hope you will support the highest funding level possible for these critically important programs and fully fund FHIP, FHAP, and HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO). Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely,

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U.S. House of Representatives

Subject: Support Strong Fair Housing Enforcement Funding in FY '25

Message:

Dear Representative [ADD YOUR MEMBER'S NAME], As you continue to work through the FY ’25 appropriations process, I am reaching out to ask that you support the highest possible level of funding for HUD programs for FY ’25, fully fund our nation’s fair housing enforcement programs, and defend HUD’s ability to fully enforce the Fair Housing Act. In 2023 – the most recent reporting year for comprehensive fair housing complaint data – 34,150 fair housing complaints were received by private fair housing organizations, FHAP agencies, HUD and DOJ, representing the highest number of complaints ever reported in a single year, 3.5 percent higher than the number of complaints reported in 2022. Specifically, in 2023 FHIP funded organizations processed 75.52 percent of all complaints filed in 2023, and FHAP agencies processed 19.26 percent of all complaints. Together, these organizations and agencies investigate and handled 95 percent of reported instances of housing discrimination, each playing a crucial role in helping individuals and families who have felt the destabilizing effects of housing and lending discrimination, and appraisal bias. Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) funding is the only federal resource for local, nonprofit, private enforcement and fair housing services, and I am requesting $125 million for FY ‘25 to increase grant awards for multi-year enforcement grants, strengthen education and outreach grants, and begin creating private fair housing groups in areas not served by a full-service fair housing group. The Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP) also plays an important role in handling fair housing cases filed under state and local laws, and I urge you to fight for $36.6 million for FHAP. This increase would strengthen funding for local and state government civil rights agencies for their processing and investigation of cases they receive from us, the public, or those that are referred to them by HUD. HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) has seen consistent understaffing, delaying complaint investigations. These delays have caused great harm to HUD’s implementation of the Fair Housing Act. I am requesting $153 million to support 1,125 Full-Time-Equivalent staff at HUD’s FHEO. I hope you will support the highest funding level possible for these critically important programs and fully fund FHIP, FHAP, and HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO). Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely,

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Act Now: Continue to Pressure Congress to Support Strong Fair Housing Enforcement Funding in FY '25

Act Now: Continue to Pressure Congress to Support Strong Fair Housing Enforcement Funding in FY '25

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