Project Grant FEOI230053

PURPOSE: PURPOSE. BUILDING A VIBRANT INCLUSIVE VERMONT IS A COMPREHENSIVE STATEWIDE EDUCATION AND OUTREACH CAMPAIGN USING A) AFFIRMATIVELY FURTHERING FAIR HOUSING AND GENERAL FAIR HOUSING TRAINING AND B) BROAD PUBLIC EDUCATION AND TARGETED OUTREACH TO ADDRESS SYSTEMIC BARRIERS TO FAIR HOUSING. THE HOUSEHOLD AND COMMUNITY REPERCUSSIONS OF THE PANDEMIC CONTINUE TO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT AND LONG-TERM IMPACT ON HOUSING ACCESS, AFFORDABILITY, AND INCLUSION, AND PUT OUR MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS AT GREATER RISK FOR EVICTION, DISCRIMINATION, AND HARASSMENT. A PRIMARY GOAL OF STRIVING FOR HOUSING EQUITY VERMONT IS TO ADDRESS BARRIERS THAT ARISE WHEN PEOPLE PROTECTED UNDER THE FAIR HOUSING ACT EXERCISE THEIR FAIR HOUSING RIGHTS TO EXPAND HOUSING CHOICE AND ALSO TO ELEVATE PROJECTS THAT PROMOTE EQUITY AND JUSTICE IN HOUSING; ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED. IN ADDITION TO PROVEN AND ONGOING SUCCESSFUL EDUCATION AND OUTREACH ACTIVITIES, THE NEW STRATEGIES IN THIS GRANT WILL INCREASE IN-PERSON OUTREACH TO MEET THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE WITH LIMITED ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY AND POPULATIONS THAT CAN BENEFIT FROM MORE DIRECT AND TRUSTED CONTACTS. THIS EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE A) AFFIRMATIVELY FURTHERING FAIR HOUSING AND GENERAL FAIR HOUSING TRAINING FOR MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS AND HOUSING PROVIDERS TO ENSURE THAT THEY KNOW THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER STATE AND FEDERAL FAIR HOUSING LAW, TO SERVICE PROVIDERS TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO HELP THEIR CLIENTS IDENTIFY POTENTIAL VIOLATIONS AND ADVOCATE FOR THEIR RIGHTS, AND FOR THE PUBLIC TO ENSURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THEIR RIGHTS AND KNOW HOW TO SEEK HELP, AND B) BROAD PUBLIC EDUCATION AND TARGETED OUTREACH WITH A FOCUS ON UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS MOST AT RISK FOR HOUSING INSTABILITY. WE WILL IMPLEMENT AN EDUCATION AND OUTREACH CAMPAIGN THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, INFORMATION DISSEMINATION, COMMUNITY-BASED WORKSHOPS, INTERPRETED HOME-BASED GATHERINGS, CREATIVE ACTIVITIES, AND OTHER MEANS, WITH A PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO RENTERS AND PEOPLE IN PROTECTED CLASSES. OUTREACH CAMPAIGNS WILL UTILIZE POSITIVE MESSAGING ABOUT INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES, CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES TO THRIVE, AND SAFE AND SECURE HOUSING FOR VULNERABLE VERMONTERS. AS THE STATE'S ONLY PROGRAM SOLELY DEDICATED TO FAIR HOUSING EDUCATION, OUTREACH, AND TRAINING, WE COLLABORATE WITH A WIDE NETWORK OF REGIONAL AND STATEWIDE PARTNERS, INCLUDING OUR COLLEAGUES IN FAIR HOUSING ENFORCEMENT AND REPRESENTATION, TO AFFIRMATIVELY FURTHERING FAIR HOUSING AND MITIGATE BARRIERS TO HOUSING CHOICE. WE WILL CONDUCT HIGH QUALITY TRAINING AND CONSULTATIONS WITH LOCAL OFFICIALS, HOUSING AND SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND THE PUBLIC TO ENCOURAGE INCLUSIVE, DIVERSE, AFFORDABLE, AND ECONOMICALLY VIBRANT COMMUNITIES. WE WILL IMPLEMENT ENGAGING EDUCATION AND OUTREACH ACTIVITIES THAT REACH A WIDE AUDIENCE, WITH A FOCUS ON UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS, INCLUDING RURAL RESIDENTS, LOW-INCOME RENTERS, MOBILE HOME RESIDENTS, AND PEOPLE IN PROTECTED CLASSES. OUTREACH WILL INCLUDE CONVENTIONAL, WEB-BASED, AND SOCIAL MEDIA. WE WILL CONTINUE OUR SUCCESSFUL FAIR HOUSING MONTH ACTIVITIES AND COMMUNITY ART PROJECTS THAT SUPPORT FAIR HOUSING IDEALS AND EXPAND OUR REACH IN RURAL AREAS THROUGH A STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WITH THE STATE'S PUBLIC LIBRARIES. CONSULTATIONS, REFERRALS, AND HELP FILING COMPLAINTS WILL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING DISCRIMINATION. ACTIVITIES TO INCLUDE: WORKSHOPS AND TRAININGS (LIVE, ON-DEMAND ONLINE, AND CREATIVE ART); FAIR HOUSING FRIDAY WEBINARS; FAIR HOUSING MONTH AWARENESS ACTIVITIES AND STATE AND MUNICIPAL PROCLAMATIONS; COMMUNITY ART PROJECTS; COLLABORATION/COORDINATION WITH REGIONAL AND STATEWIDE PARTNERS TO PROMOTE INCLUSIVE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING; DISTRIBUTION OF PRINT AND DIGITAL MATERIALS; DIRECT SERVICE TO INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING DISCRIMINATION; EXPECTED OUTCOMES: EXPECTED OUTCOMES. THE OVERALL GOALS OF THIS PROJECT ARE TO INCREASE ACCESS TO FAIR HOUSING INFORMATION AND SUPPORTS FOR PEOPLE IN PROTECTED CLASSES. THE RENEWED EFFORTS TO MEET PEOPLE IN PROTECTED CLASSES, RURAL RESIDENTS, AND THOSE ON THE VERGE OF HOUSING INSTABILITY IN SAFE COMMUNITY AND HOME-BASED SPACES WILL HELP PROVIDE MORE DIRECT CONNECTIONS, A HIGHER LEVEL OF SERVICE, AND AN INCREASE IN TRUST. PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL INTERPRETERS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS WILL INCREASE LANGUAGE ACCESS AND HELP BUILD STRONGER RELATIONSHIPS. THESE ACTIVITIES WILL ULTIMATELY SUPPORT UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, ADVANCE HOUSING JUSTICE, AND PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES; INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: INTENDED BENEFICIARIES. PEOPLE IN PROTECTED CLASSES AND OTHER UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS, SUCH AS RURAL RESIDENTS, LOW-INCOME RENTERS, AND MOBILE HOME RESIDENTS ARE THE KEY BENEFICIARIES OF OUR WORK, EITHER DIRECTLY THROUGH OUTREACH ACTIVITIES, EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, AND DIRECT SERVICE SUPPORT, OR INDIRECTLY THROUGH THE TRAINING THAT WE PROVIDE TO MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS AND HOUSING AND SERVICE PROVIDERS. OTHER BENEFICIARIES WILL INCLUDE, BUT NOT LIMITED TO: BIPOC, LGBTQ+, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, AND NON-ENGLISH SPEAKERS WHO ARE GENERALLY IN THE PROTECTED CLASS OF "COUNTRY OF ORIGIN.; SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES: NONE