The purpose of complaint processing funds (CP) is to financially assist fair housing assistance program (fhap) participating agencies who have been in the program and that have received CP funds for…

The Department of Housing and Urban Development's Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity awarded $220,800 in formula grant funding to the Human Rights Commission Maine on October 1, 2025, under the Fair Housing Assistance Program (CFDA 14.401).

The recipient processes fair housing discrimination complaints on behalf of the state. Under this award, the Human Rights Commission Maine receives reimbursement support based on the number of housing discrimination complaints acceptably processed during the preceding 12-month evaluation period, as determined by HUD's Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity regional office. Each complaint processed is logged into HUD's enforcement case management system; the regional office evaluates agency performance according to standards enumerated in the cooperative agreement and 24 CFR 115.206. The scope of activities includes complaint investigation, case processing, and related fair housing enforcement infrastructure.

The period of performance runs October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026. Place of performance is Augusta, Maine. As a child entity of the State of Maine and a certified Fair Housing Assistance Program participant, the Human Rights Commission Maine qualifies as a state-level fair housing enforcement agency substantially equivalent under the Fair Housing Act. The Human Rights Commission Maine has participated in consecutive FHAP cooperative agreements since October 2021 and concurrently receives employment discrimination investigation funding from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Activities

Agencies receiving CP funds will receive such support based solely on the number of complaints processed by the agency and accepted for payment by the fair housing and equal opportunity (fheo) regional office during a consecutive, specifically identified, 12-month period. The 12-month period will be identified in the cooperative agreement between HUD and the agency. Funding and distribution amount is based on funding availability. The fheo regional office determines whether or not cases are acceptably processed based on requirements enumerated in the cooperative agreement and its attachments/appendices, performance standards set forth in 24 CFR 115.206, and provisions of the interim agreement or memorandum of understanding (MOU). The scope of activities is detailed in criteria for processing, which is made available to all participating agencies. Each case processed by the agency is logged into HUD's case management system HUD enforcement management system (hems), because each complaint involves personally identifiable information (PII) this information is not publicly shared. However, the information gathered and collected in hems is used to evaluate the performance of each fhap agency during the performance assessment report (PAR). CP funds are awarded to eligible agencies at the conclusion of the case processing period, and compensation is based on the number and types of case closures, based on rates outlined in the annual cooperative agreement.

Expected outcomes

The outcomes from use of this funds will amplify the resources available to fair housing enforcement partners and assist the agency in proper case management of fair housing complaints that are cognizable under the fair housing act. Each participating fhap agency is evaluated every two years through a performance assessment report. This report quantifies fhap performance per required measurable outcomes outlined in the cooperative agreement, the annual fhap guidance package which includes the criteria for processing outlined above and regulatory requirements under C.F.R. § 115.306. Fhap agencies that do not meet the minimum required outcomes may be placed on a performance improvement plan (PIP) which details the required improvement and timeline for remediation. The information gathered by the PAR and PIP is reported back to the fhap participating agency as an internal report not to be distributed publicly. Information relating to outcomes of the investigations is available in the annual reports to congress available at: https://WWW.HUD.GOV/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_OPP/annualreport

Intended beneficiaries

Any person or group of persons aggrieved by a discriminatory housing practice because of race, color, religion, SEX, disability, familial status, or national origin. IT also includes organizations (e.g., fair housing advocacy groups) that have suffered an injury as a result of discriminatory housing practices.

Subrecipient activities

The recipient does not intend to subaward funds.