Project Grant FHOI230079

PURPOSE: THE PRIMARY PURPOSES OF THIS FHOI-CDC PROJECT IS TO PROVIDE TARGETED CAPACITY BUILDING IN SYSTEMIC AND CLIENT-BASED FAIR HOUSING INVESTIGATIONS ON ACTIVITIES INTO SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND/OR GENDER IDENTITY DISCRIMINATION, APPRAISAL BIAS/HOME DEVALUATION DUE TO A PROTECTED CLASS, HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE, ALGORITHMIC BIAS/LENDING IN VIOLATION OF FAIR HOUSING LAWS, CRIMINAL RECORD POLICIES RESULTING IN A DISPARATE IMPACT AGAINST A PROTECTED CLASS, AND/OR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTED HOUSING ISSUES COVERED UNDER THE FEDERAL FAIR HOUSING ACT; ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED (UP TO 4,900 CHARACTER LIMIT): THIS GRANT APPLICATION FOCUSES ON VARYING FORMS OF INVESTIGATION AND ENFORCEMENT WITH SOME EDUCATION AND OUTREACH ACTIVITIES TO REACH POSSIBLE VICTIMS OF THE AREAS OF FOCUS. THE KEY DELIVERABLES OF THIS FHOI-CDC GRANT WITH PROJECTED OUTCOMES FOR THOSE REACHED ARE: PROVIDE/OBTAIN TRAINING TO/FOR STAFF, AS APPROPRIATE, INCLUDING (1) MEET WITH 6 NONPROFITS, NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS, LEGAL SERVICES, OR OTHER AGENCIES TO DETERMINE AREAS OF POSSIBLE FAIR HOUSING VIOLATION RELATED TO SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND/OR GENDER IDENTITY, APPRAISAL, ALGORITHMIC BIAS/LENDING, CRIMINAL RECORD POLICIES, HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE, OR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTED HOUSING ISSUES. (2) CONDUCT EXPANDED OUTREACH PROGRAM THROUGH PAID MEDIA TO LOCATE VICTIMS OR AREAS OF CONCERN RELATED TO SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND/OR GENDER IDENTITY, APPRAISAL, ALGORITHMIC BIAS/LENDING, CRIMINAL RECORD POLICIES, OR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTED HOUSING ISSUES (ESTIMATED OUTREACH OF 2,000 PERSONS). (3) CONDUCT INTAKE OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND/OR GENDER IDENTITY, APPRAISAL, ALGORITHMIC BIAS/LENDING, HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, OR TENANT SCREENING/CRIMINAL RECORD IMPACTED HOUSING ISSUES. (4) RECRUIT AN ESTIMATED 15 TESTERS AND TRAIN AN ESTIMATED 10 TESTERS FOR RENTAL, LENDING, AND/OR HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE TESTING. (5) CONDUCT 6 TEST PARTS TO IDENTIFY ANY VIOLATIONS OF LAW DUE TO SEXUAL ORIENTATION OR GENDER IDENTITY. (6) CONDUCT 6 TEST PARTS TO IDENTIFY ANY VIOLATIONS OF LAW DUE TO TENANT SCREENING AND/OR CRIMINAL RECORD POLICIES THAT HAVE A DISPARATE IMPACT UPON RACE, COLOR, NATIONAL ORIGIN, GENDER, OR DISABILITY. (7) CONDUCT 6 TEST PARTS TO IDENTIFY ANY VIOLATIONS OF LAW IN THE HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE PROCESS. (8) CONDUCT 4 TEST PARTS TO IDENTIFY ANY VIOLATIONS OF LAW IN THE ALGORITHMIC BIAS OR MORTGAGE LENDING PROCESS. (9) OPEN AN ESTIMATED 5 NEW INVESTIGATIONS OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND/OR GENDER IDENTITY, APPRAISAL, ALGORITHMIC BIAS/LENDING, HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE, TENANT SCREENING/CRIMINAL RECORD IMPACTED HOUSING ISSUES, OR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTED HOUSING ISSUES. PARTNER AS NEEDED ON AT LEAST 1 SYSTEMIC INVESTIGATION WITH OTHER FAIR HOUSING ORGANIZATION(S). (10) PURSUE ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS AND FILE MERITORIOUS HOUSING DISCRIMINATION COMPLAINTS/CASES WITH HUD, ICRC (FHAP) & COURT. REFER COMPLAINTS TO ATTORNEYS (POSSIBLE IMPACT OF 1,000S). (11) COORDINATE AND COLLABORATE EFFORTS WITH GRASS ROOTS AND FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (INCLUDING ORGANIZATIONS THAT SERVE VETERANS, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, GAY LESBIAN AND TRANSGENDER PERSONS, AND LEP IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES), HOUSING INDUSTRY, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE 4 FAIR HOUSING EDUCATION TRAININGS/WEBINARS ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND/OR GENDER IDENTITY, APPRAISAL, ALGORITHMIC BIAS/LENDING, CRIMINAL RECORD POLICIES, HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE, OR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTED HOUSING ISSUES (ESTIMATED 200 PERSONS IN ATTENDANCE). (12) ISSUE AT LEAST 2 REPORTS OR PUBLICATIONS TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AND/OR TO LOCATE VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND/OR GENDER IDENTITY, APPRAISAL, ALGORITHMIC BIAS/LENDING, HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE, OR TENANT SCREENING/CRIMINAL RECORD IMPACTED HOUSING ISSUES AND AT LEAST 1 REPORT OR PUBLICATION TO LOCATE VICTIMS OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTED HOUSING ISSUES (DISTRIBUTE AT LEAST 300 COPIES). C. EXPECTED OUTCOMES (UP TO 4,900 CHARACTER LIMIT): (1) COMPLETION OF DELIVERABLES & REPORTS, (2) NUMBER/TYPES OF UNLAWFUL DISCRIMINATION UNCOVERED AND COMPLAINTS/REFERRALS FILED AND THEIR RESOLUTION, (3) HOUSING UNITS OPENED FROM HOUSING DISCRIMINATION, (4) PERSONS EDUCATED ABOUT FAIR HOUSING LAWS, (5) COMPLETION OF ACTIVITIES, PRODUCTS. AND REPORTS, (6) ATTENDANCE LOGS, DEMOGRAPHICS, EVALUATION SUMMARIES, AND DATABASE DATA, (7) ADDITIONAL REPORTED ALLEGATIONS OF HOUSING DISCRIMINATION TO OUR OFFICE FROM TRAININGS AND OUTREACH, AND (8) THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OF THIS PROJECT COULD BE INTO THE SEVERAL THOUSANDS THROUGH A BETTER TRAINED FHCCI WHICH CAN UNCOVER AND ADDRESS MORE SYSTEMIC FORMS OF HOUSING DISCRIMINATION.; EXPECTED OUTCOMES: THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OF THIS PROJECT COULD BE INTO THE SEVERAL THOUSANDS THROUGH A BETTER TRAINED FHCCI WHICH CAN UNCOVER AND ADDRESS MORE SYSTEMIC FORMS OF HOUSING DISCRIMINATION. THIS PROJECT WILL PROMOTE AND INCREASE COMPLIANCE WITH THE FAIR HOUSING ACT THROUGH INVESTIGATION AND ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS. THESE SERVICES WILL ALSO SUPPORT HUD'S STRATEGIC GOALS, SUB-GOALS OR POLICY PRIORITIES OF ELIMINATING HOUSING DISCRIMINATION WHEREVER ONE BUYS, REFINANCES OR RENT A HOME; EXPANDING FAMILIES' CHOICES OF AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOMES LOCATED IN A BROAD RANGE OF COMMUNITIES; BUILDING INCLUSIVE AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES FREE FROM DISCRIMINATION; AFFIRMATIVELY FURTHERING FAIR HOUSING; AND CAPACITY BUILDING AND KNOWLEDGE SHARING.; INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: FOR THE 12 MONTHS OF THIS PROJECT, THE FHCCI WILL BUILD CAPACITY AND LEARN HOW TO CONDUCT MORE EFFECTIVE INVESTIGATIONS OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND/OR GENDER IDENTITY DISCRIMINATION, APPRAISAL BIAS/HOME DEVALUATION DUE TO A PROTECTED CLASS, ALGORITHMIC BIAS/LENDING AND HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE ANALYSIS IN VIOLATION OF FAIR HOUSING LAWS, TENANT SCREENING/CRIMINAL RECORD POLICIES RESULTING IN A DISPARATE IMPACT AGAINST A PROTECTED CLASS, AND/OR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTED HOUSING ISSUES UNDER THE FEDERAL FAIR HOUSING ACT. THROUGHOUT THIS GRANT, THE FHCCI WILL ALSO BE OUTREACHING TO IDENTIFY POSSIBLE VICTIMS DUE TO THEIR RACE, COLOR, NATIONAL ORIGIN, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY, AND/OR THE IMPACT OF DISPARATE IMPACT PRACTICES OR POLICES UPON THESE PROTECTED GROUPS, OR ANY OTHER PROTECTED GROUPS. WE ANTICIPATE DIRECTLY REACHING AN ESTIMATED 3,000 PERSONS THROUGH THE ACTIVITIES OUTLINED IN THIS PROJECT; SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES: NONE