Act Now: Urge Congress to Support Critical Fair Housing Enforcement Funding in the FY ‘26 Budget

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Act Now: Urge Congress to Maintain Critical Fair Housing Funding in the FY26 Budget

The Administration's FY26 budget proposal will worsen the nation’s fair and affordable housing crisis. As everyday Americans face an escalating fair and affordable housing crisis, the Administration's FY 26 budget proposes eliminating the local Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP), which funds local nonprofits that ensure access to housing opportunity free of discrimination for seniors, disabled veterans, survivors of sexual harassment, families with children, and people of color, and more; and allocating only $55 million for HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) which represents a cut of $31 million from its current budget at a time when fair housing issues are escalating and the office is already under-resourced.

Tell Congress to maintain essential funding for fair housing programs!

Now is not the time to cut critical funding for fair housing programs. In 2024 – the most recent reporting year for comprehensive fair housing complaint data – 32,321 fair housing complaints were received by private fair housing organizations, FHAP agencies, HUD and DOJ, representing one of the highest in more than two decades. FHIP funded organizations processed 74.12 percent of all complaints, while FHAP agencies processed 20.90 percent of all complaints.

As the nation is in the throes of a fair and affordable housing crisis, persistent housing discrimination, and increased homelessness, Congress maintain funding for essential fair housing programs, especially $56 million for the crucial Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) and $26 million for the Fair Housing Assistance Program.

Why does this matter? The President’s budget proposal falls short of what is needed to effectively support local communities in their efforts to ensure equitable housing opportunities and help victims of housing discrimination to be made whole. As a result, disabled veterans and seniors requiring accessible housing opportunities, families with children looking to rent an apartment free of discrimination, women seeking to live without sexual abuse from landlords, and people seeking to buy a home free of racial harassment will all be adversely impacted.

Act now to tell Congress to provide essential funding for HUD programs and fully fund fair housing programs!

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Act Now: Urge Congress to Support Critical Fair Housing Enforcement Funding in the FY ‘26 Budget

U.S. Senate

Subject: Support Fair Housing Funding in FY '26

Message:

Dear Senator [ADD YOUR MEMBER'S NAME], I am reaching out to ask that you support essential funding for HUD programs for FY26; maintain funding for our nation’s fair housing programs; and defend HUD’s ability to fully enforce the landmark Fair Housing Act. In 2024 – the most recent reporting year for comprehensive fair housing complaint data – 32,321 fair housing complaints were received by private, non-profit fair housing organizations, FHAP agencies, HUD and DOJ, representing one of the highest in more than two decades. Specifically, in 2024 FHIP funded organizations processed 74.12 percent of all complaints, and FHAP agencies processed 20.90 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 $56 million for FY26 to ensure adequate funding for multi-year enforcement grants, strengthen education and outreach grants, and begin creating private fair housing groups in areas of the nation not served by a full-service fair housing organization. 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 $26 million for FHAP. Lastly, I am requesting that you maintain current funding levels of $86 million for HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO). I hope you will support maintaining essential funding for these critically important programs. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, [YOUR NAME]

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U.S. House of Representatives

Subject: Support Strong Fair Housing Funding in FY '26

Message:

Dear Representative [ADD YOUR MEMBER'S NAME], I am reaching out to ask that you support essential funding for HUD programs for FY26; fully fund our nation’s fair housing programs; and defend HUD’s ability to fully enforce the landmark Fair Housing Act. In 2024 – the most recent reporting year for comprehensive fair housing complaint data – 32,321 fair housing complaints were received by private, non-profit fair housing organizations, FHAP agencies, HUD and DOJ, representing one of the highest in more than two decades. Specifically, in 2024 FHIP funded organizations processed 74.12 percent of all complaints, and FHAP agencies processed 20.90 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 FY26 to ensure adequate funding for multi-year enforcement grants, strengthen education and outreach grants, and begin creating private fair housing groups in areas of the nation not served by a full-service fair housing organization. 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 responsibility to effectively implement 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, [YOUR NAME]

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Act Now: Urge Congress to Maintain Critical Fair Housing Funding in the FY26 Budget

Act Now: Urge Congress to Support Critical Fair Housing Enforcement Funding in the FY ‘26 Budget

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