The 12-month proposed project will continue the work of CRA coalition building and commenting on bank performance to combat redlining and segregation and build vibrant communities of color in the ST

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded a $125,000 Project Grant under the Fair Housing Organization Initiatives (FHOI) program (CFDA 14.417) to Justine Petersen Housing And Reinvestment Corporation for a 12-month period from September 1, 2024 to August 31, 2025. The project aims to continue the organization's work in coalition building and commenting on bank performance to combat redlining and segregation, as well as provide fair housing education to homebuyer programs and sponsored activities in the St. Louis metropolitan area. Key activities to be performed include conducting educational trainings on the Fair Housing Act, developing and distributing informational materials, and utilizing social media and community outreach to ensure widespread access to fair housing information. The project is intended to benefit first-time homebuyers, persons with disabilities, and residents within the St. Louis Promise Zone. No sub-recipient activities are included as part of this federal grant award.

Activities

1) conduct educational trainings within homebuyer education programs hosted by JP and community partners to inform the general public about the fair housing act and the rights of protected classes; 2) develop and print new materials that inform about the fair housing act and rights of protected classes; 3) distribute materials through social media advertising, an expanded website, and other community outreach to ensure widespread access to fair housing informational materials.

Expected outcomes

1) conduct educational trainings within homebuyer education programs hosted by JP and community partners to inform the general public about the fair housing act and the rights of protected classes; 2) develop and print new materials that inform about the fair housing act and rights of protected classes; 3) distribute materials through social media advertising, an expanded website, and other community outreach to ensure widespread access to fair housing informational materials.

Intended beneficiaries

Areas of concentration for the proposed activities include providing fair housing/lending education to JP program participants, regularly evaluating and commenting on local community bank performance and CRA activity, as well as focusing on first-time homebuyers, provide affirmatively furthering of fair housing input to local governments and planning processes and persons with disabilities, and geographies located within the ST. Louis promise zone.