Federal Grant Award Summary

Housing Opportunities Made Equal of Virginia, Inc. received a $125,000 Project Grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Fair Housing Organization Initiatives program (CFDA 14.417), awarded February 1, 2026, with completion targeted for January 31, 2027. The award funds the organization's efforts to develop and implement public education programs that inform individuals and organizations about their rights and responsibilities under the Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 3601-3619) and substantially equivalent state and local housing discrimination laws. The intended beneficiaries include persons and groups aggrieved by discriminatory housing practices based on protected classes—including race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, and national origin—as well as housing market participants such as landlords and real estate agents seeking to prevent discriminatory practices.

As a qualified fair housing enforcement organization, Housing Opportunities Made Equal leverages this funding to conduct fair housing education and outreach activities across Virginia from its Richmond headquarters. The organization's work under this award complements its broader fair housing mission, which includes investigations, testing, counseling, and legal assistance related to housing discrimination. Through the Fair Housing Organization Initiatives program, HUD supports regional and local nonprofit organizations to build capacity for preventing and eliminating discriminatory housing practices in sales, rentals, financing, and other housing-related transactions.