Project Grant FEOI230014

PURPOSE: THE CENTER IS REQUESTING FUNDING TO REDUCE BARRIERS TO INTEGRATION AND SUPPORT HOUSING CHOICE FOR INDIVIDUALS LIKELY TO FACE HOUSING DISCRIMINATION.; ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: ACTIVITIES UNDER THIS GRANT WILL ALSO ADVANCE FOUR OF HUD'S STRATEGIC GOALS: 1. STRATEGIC GOAL 1: SUPPORT UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES - ACTIVITIES UNDER THIS GOAL WILL REACH TENANTS WHO ARE MEMBERS OF A PROTECTED CLASS LIVING IN HIGHLY SEGREGATED COMMUNITIES, AND PEOPLE IN SHELTERS THROUGH FAIR HOUSING TRAININGS AND DEVELOPMENT AND DISTRIBUTION OF NEW EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS ON SPECIFIC FAIR HOUSING ISSUES REACHING 1,000 PEOPLE. 2. STRATEGIC GOAL 2: ENSURE ACCESS TO AND PRODUCTION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING - ACTIVITIES UNDER THIS GOAL WILL REACH 150 KEY HOUSING STAKEHOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTE TO EFFORTS FOCUSED ON INCREASING ACCESS TO AND EQUITABLE PRODUCTION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. 3. STRATEGIC GOAL 3: PROMOTE HOMEOWNERSHIP - ACTIVITIES UNDER THIS GOAL WILL ADDRESS MORTGAGE LENDING DISCRIMINATION AND HELP FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES PROTECT THEIR FAIR HOUSING AND FAIR LENDING RIGHTS, REACHING 150 POTENTIAL HOMEBUYERS. 4. STRATEGIC GOAL 4: ADVANCE SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES - ACTIVITIES UNDER THIS GOAL WILL RAISE AWARENESS AND PROMOTE THE INTERSECTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND FAIR HOUSING. B. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED - THE CENTER WILL UNDERTAKE 42 ACTIVITIES, AS OUTLINED IN APPENDIX A TO REDUCE BARRIERS TO INTEGRATION AND SUPPORT HOUSING CHOICE FOR INDIVIDUALS LIKELY TO FACE HOUSING DISCRIMINATION. ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE: 1. STRATEGIC GOAL 1: SUPPORT UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES PROVIDE SPECIALIZED FAIR HOUSING EDUCATION AND OUTREACH THAT HELPS BIPOC TENANTS IDENTIFY, AND REPORT HOUSING DISCRIMINATION BASED ON RACE AND ETHNICITY. INCREASE AWARENESS AND ADVOCACY AROUND SPECIFIC FAIR HOUSING AND CIVIL RIGHTS BARRIERS FACED BY TENANTS OF COLOR, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE CRIMINAL BACKGROUNDS BY CREATING AND DISTRIBUTING ISSUE-SPECIFIC EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS. PROVIDE GENERAL FAIR HOUSING TRAINING AND OUTREACH IN UNDERSERVED, HIGHLY SEGREGATED COMMUNITIES. INCREASE AWARENESS OF AND ACCESS TO FAIR HOUSING RESOURCES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES REDUCE BARRIERS TO HOUSING CHOICE FOR FAMILIES LIVING IN SHELTERS WHO ARE SEEKING PERMANENT HOUSING. PROVIDE OUTREACH MATERIALS IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES TO SUPPORT HOUSEHOLDS THAT OTHER SPEAK LANGUAGES. 2. STRATEGIC GOAL 2: ENSURE ACCESS TO AND PRODUCTION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROMOTE ACTION TOWARDS EQUITABLE AFFORDABLE HOUSING SOLUTIONS BY PROVIDING EDUCATION ON CONNECTICUT'S HISTORY OF DISCRIMINATORY HOUSING POLICY. PROMOTE INCREASED AND EQUITABLE PRODUCTION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. STRATEGIC GOAL 3: PROMOTE HOMEOWNERSHIP ENSURE HOMEBUYERS IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES AND/OR WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THE PROTECTED CLASSES LEARN ABOUT THE HOMEBUYING PROCESS, UNDERSTAND THEIR FAIR HOUSING AND FAIR LENDING RIGHTS, AND LEARN HOW TO OBTAIN AFFORDABLE MORTGAGES. STRATEGIC GOAL 4: ADVANCE SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES INCREASE AWARENESS OF FAIR HOUSING ISSUES, IN PARTICULAR THE INTERSECTION OF HEALTH, HOUSING, AND THE ENVIRONMENT BY HIGHLIGHTING HOUSING AND HEALTH FOR FAIR HOUSING MONTH AND CONDUCTING TRAININGS ON HOW HOUSING CAN IMPACT HEALTH.; EXPECTED OUTCOMES: 1. STRATEGIC GOAL 1: SUPPORT UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES 50 TENANTS FROM UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES REACHED THROUGH FAIR HOUSING EDUCATION. 100 PEOPLE FROM ORGANIZATIONS THAT WORK WITH UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES REACHED THROUGH FAIR HOUSING EDUCATION. 2 NEW EDUCATIONAL RACK CARDS PUBLISHED ON RACE/ETHNICITY AND DISABILITY FAIR HOUSING ISSUES. 500 INDIVIDUALS AND/OR ORGANIZATIONS REACHED THROUGH DISTRIBUTION OF OUTREACH MATERIALS. 100 TENANTS ACROSS THREE REGIONAL OUTREACH EVENTS WILL HAVE INCREASED ACCESS TO FAIR HOUSING RESOURCES. 100 PEOPLE ACROSS FOUR REGIONAL OUTREACH EVENTS WILL HAVE INCREASED ACCESS TO FAIR HOUSING RESOURCES AND AD-HOC ASSISTANCE. 30 SOCIAL SERVICE WORKERS WILL HAVE INCREASED AWARENESS OF FAIR HOUSING LAWS AND INCREASED ABILITY TO SERVE CLIENTS EXPERIENCING HOUSING ISSUES. 75 PEOPLE WHO HAVE DISABILITIES AND/OR PEOPLE WHO WORK AT DISABILITY SERVING ORGANIZATIONS WILL HAVE INCREASED KNOWLEDGE OF FAIR HOUSING RESOURCES. 50 PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WILL RECEIVE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO REQUEST A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION. 15 TENANTS IN THE PROTECTED CLASSES WILL RECEIVE PERSONALIZED FAIR HOUSING ASSISTANCE AND ADVICE. 20 HOUSING CASEWORKERS WILL RECEIVE TRAINING ON THE FAIR HOUSING LAWS TO HELP CLIENTS REDUCE BARRIERS TO HOUSING CHOICE. 50 MEMBERS OF THE PROTECTED CLASSES WILL RECEIVE INFORMATION ON FAIRER USE OF TENANT SCREENING SOFTWARE. 2. STRATEGIC GOAL 2: ENSURE ACCESS TO AND PRODUCTION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING REACH 50 KEY STAKEHOLDERS (I.E., LOCAL/STATE POLICYMAKERS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AND OTHERS) TO HELP THEM MAKE DECISIONS THAT DISRUPT PATTERNS OF INEQUITY. PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL, REGIONAL, AND STATEWIDE ADVOCACY TO ENSURE THAT FAIR HOUSING CONCERNS ARE CONSIDERED IN POLICY AND PLANNING PROCESSES. PARTICIPATION IN COLLECTIVE IMPACT TO HELP REMOVE BARRIERS TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. 3. STRATEGIC GOAL 3: PROMOTE HOMEOWNERSHIP 25 FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS FROM UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES WILL RECEIVE FAIR HOUSING/FAIR LENDING TRAINING. 50 MOVING FORWARD HOMEBUYER'S GUIDES DISTRIBUTED TO HELP HOMEBUYERS IN PROTECTED CLASSES UNDERSTAND THEIR FAIR HOUSING/FAIR LENDING RIGHTS. 75 ASPIRING HOMEBUYERS FROM HIGHLY SEGREGATED, HIGH-POVERTY AREAS WILL RECEIVE FAIR HOUSING AND MOVING RESOURCES AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AND LEARN ABOUT THEIR FAIR HOUSING/FAIR LENDING RIGHTS. 4. STRATEGIC GOAL 4: ADVANCE SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES A FAIR HOUSING MONTH EVENT FOCUSED ON THE INTERSECTION OF HOUSING AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IS CREATED. AT LEAST 50 STAKEHOLDERS PARTICIPATE IN THE FAIR HOUSING AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE EVENT. 150 RESIDENTS INCREASE THEIR KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FAIR HOUSING AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE. THE CENTER WILL DEVELOP NEW MATERIALS ADDRESSING THE INTERSECTION OF HOUSING AND THE ENVIRONMENT.; INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: INTENDED BENEFICIARIES OF THIS PROJECT INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO PROTECTED CLASSES UNDER FEDERAL AND CONNECTICUT FAIR HOUSING LAW.; SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES: NONE