Project Grant FPEI230108

PURPOSE: PURPOSE - THE PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT IS TO PROVIDE BROAD-BASED, FULL-SERVICE FAIR HOUSING ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT CENTRAL/SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI, WHERE 48% OF THE STATE'S POPULATION RESIDES, CONSISTING OF THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES: CLAIBORNE, COPIAH, SIMPSON, SMITH, JASPER, CLARKE, JEFFERSON, ADAMS, FRANKLIN, LINCOLN, LAWRENCE, JEFFERSON DAVIS, COVINGTON, JONES, WAYNE, WILKINSON, AMITE, PIKE, WALTHALL, MARION, LAMAR, FORREST, PERRY, GREENE, PEARL RIVER, STONE, GEORGE, HANCOCK, HARRISON AND JACKSON. MCJ INTENDS TO INCREASE COMMUNITY KNOWLEDGE OF THE FAIR HOUSING ACT, ENSURE THAT HOUSING PROVIDERS AND LENDERS ARE FOLLOWING THE FAIR HOUSING ACT WITH A ROBUST TESTING PROGRAM, AND VINDICATE THE RIGHTS OF VICTIMS OF HOUSING DISCRIMINATION IN SOUTH AND CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI.; ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED - PROJECT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE STAFFING A SYSTEM OF INTAKE AND PROCESSING FOR ALLEGATIONS OF HOUSING DISCRIMINATION, TO INCLUDE INVESTIGATION OF ALLEGATIONS, INTERVIEWING WITNESSES, GATHERING AND EVALUATING EVIDENCE, FILING COMPLAINTS WITH HUD, AND REPRESENTING COMPLAINANTS DURING THE INVESTIGATIVE AND CONCILIATION PROCESSES. FURTHER ACTIVITIES INCLUDE CONDUCTING SYSTEMIC AND COMPLAINT-BASED TESTING IN THE RENTAL, SALES, ACCESS,; EXPECTED OUTCOMES: EXPECTED OUTCOMES - THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES OF THIS PROJECT INCLUDES AN INCREASE OF COMMUNITY KNOWLEDGE OF THE FAIR HOUSING ACT WHICH INCLUDES PROTECTED CLASSES COVERED, PROHIBITED ACTS, AVAILABLE REMEDIES, AND INVESTIGATION AND ENFORCEMENT OF HOUSING DISCRIMINATION CLAIMS. OTHER EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDES CONTINUOUS ENFORCEMENT OF THE FAIR HOUSING ACT IN CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI COUNTIES TO TACKLE HOUSING DISCRIMINATION BY INVESTIGATING ALLEGATIONS AND FILING ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINTS. THERE WILL BE A RECORD OF CALLS MADE TO THE FAIR HOUSING TELEPHONE HOTLINE TO INCLUDE THE LOCATION OF THE CALLER AND ISSUE PRESENTED. ANOTHER MEASURING TOOL IN PLACE INCLUDES A ONE PAGE PLAIN LANGUAGE QUESTIONNAIRE TO BE USED AS A PRE AND POST-WORKSHOP SURVEY TO MEASURE THE COMMUNITIES KNOWLEDGE OF THE FAIR HOUSING ACT BEFORE AND AFTER EACH PRESENTATION AND IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH THE INITIAL BASELINE OF FAIR HOUSING KNOWLEDGE AND QUANTIFY THE LEVEL OF INCREASED KNOWLEDGE FOLLOWING ALL EDUCATION AND OUTREACH. WITH THESE MEASURING TOOLS, MCJ WILL BE ABLE TO DETERMINE IF THE METHODS OF PRESENTATION ARE EFFECTIVE, AND PIVOT IF THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES ARE NOT REACHED.; INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: INTENDED BENEFICIARIES - THE PROJECT IS INTENDED TO BENEFIT ALL MEMBERS OF CLASSES PROTECTED UNDER THE FAIR HOUSING ACT BY PROVIDING BROAD-BASED, FULL-SERVICE ENFORCEMENT AND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE 30-COUNTY SERVICE AREA. THE PROJECT WILL BENEFIT THE BROADER COMMUNITY OF SOUTHERN CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI BY INFORMING HOUSING INDUSTRY PARTICIPANTS, INCLUDING REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS, DEVELOPERS, AND LENDERS, OF THEIR OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE FAIR HOUSING ACT AND THE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES OF VIOLATING THE ACT.; SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES: NONE