The purpose of this project, entitled interaction for action, is to engage faith-based organizations and religious congregations to further fair housing in their communities and assist underserved…

This federal Project Grant award, with an ID of FEOI230056, was provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity under the Fair Housing Organization Initiatives (CFDA 14.417) program. The purpose of this $125,000 grant, awarded on January 1, 2025, is to engage faith-based organizations and religious congregations in Wisconsin to further fair housing and assist underserved populations, particularly religious minorities, who are vulnerable to housing discrimination. Key activities to be performed include educating and involving faith-based organizations in fair housing efforts, conducting a statewide symposium, and launching an outreach campaign to help identify and address housing discrimination and hate-related incidents against underserved groups. The expected outcomes are to equip religious minorities, refugees, LGBTQ+ persons, and other underserved populations with fair housing information and resources, as well as enable congregations and faith-based organizations to provide assistance and help affirmatively further fair housing in their local communities.

Activities

Educate and involve faith-based organizations and religious congregations in fair housing activities to ensure that underserved populations in wisconsin have access to housing without facing obstacles of discrimination and hate incidents; conduct a statewide symposium for faith-based organizations and congregations throughout wisconsin to educate them on ways they can affirmatively further fair housing in their communities; conduct an outreach campaign to assist underserved persons identify housing discrimination; and, address hate-related incidents, particularly against underserved populations

Expected outcomes

Religious minorities and other underserved populations will have comprehensive fair housing information to enable them to exercise their fair housing rights and live in the housing of their choice, free from discrimination and hate; congregations and faith-based organizations will be equipped to provide assistance to persons experiencing discrimination and help affirmatively further fair housing in their local communities

Intended beneficiaries

Underserved populations, including religious minorities, refugees and lgbtq+ persons in wisconsin and persons in communities that are not served by a local or private fair housing agency.