Purpose: high plains fair housing center (high plains) requests funding for its activities to continue to develop expertise in sales investigations, through data analysis, testing and other…

This federal Project Grant award of $260,000 was provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under the Fair Housing Organization Initiatives (CFDA 14.417) program. The award supports the High Plains Fair Housing Center, Inc., a non-profit organization located in Grand Forks, North Dakota, to continue developing expertise in sales investigations through data analysis, testing, and other investigatory techniques. The funding will also enable High Plains to expand its enforcement program by training on lending investigations and robustly investigating cases of lending discrimination. Key activities include analyzing demographic data to identify areas of potential discrimination, completing 50 rental tests, continuing systemic investigations, empowering complainants to file claims, providing 4 workshops to consumers and housing providers, and completing 35 intakes. The expected outcomes are to increase compliance with fair housing laws in the residential rental market and help dismantle barriers to housing choice experienced by underserved populations.

Activities

Activities to continue to develop expertise in sales investigations, through data analysis, testing and other investigatory techniques. High plains will also expand our enforcement program by being trained on lending investigations (testing and data analysis techniques). High plains also intends to use this funding to continue the systemic sales investigations that we began last year. And expand our enforcement program to robustly investigate cases of lending discrimination lending for bona fide clients and systemic cases. In order to reach this goal, high plains will engage in the following activities: activities to be performed • analyze demographic data to identify areas in south dakota that may be experiencing high levels of discrimination. • complete 50 rental tests. • continue systemic investigations started in previous grants • empower complainants to file claims. • provide 4 workshops to consumers and providers in south dakota • complete 35 intakes • create fair housing leadership in south dakota through FH task force.

Expected outcomes

Expected outcomes increase compliance with fair housing laws in the residential rental market by providing information responsibilities under the law through trainings and webinars, as well as print, audio, and digital media. Help dismantle barriers to housing choice experienced by the large population of persons with disabilities, native americans, immigrants, and persons of color by providing them with the appropriate education on how to exercise their rights when necessary. Empower complainants to file claims. More people throughout the state, especially in the promise zone will understand their rights and have a way to access tools to exercise their rights; more providers will understand their responsibilities. Break down barriers to housing choice by identifying, investigating and filing fair housing complaints.

Intended beneficiaries

Intended beneficiaries 1) underserved populations including the native american community, the immigrant community, and persons of color, especially those in the promise zone and the areas identified by the environmental justice tool to identify barriers to homeownership and to address IT. 2) training of housing providers, lenders, appraisers and lawyers in the state of north dakota