To assist private non-profit fair housing enforcement organizations in the investigation and enforcement of violations of the rights granted under title VIII of the civil rights act of 1968 (42 U.S.C.…

The Department of Housing and Urban Development Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity awarded $425,000 to Open Communities on April 1, 2026, under the Private Enforcement Initiatives program (CFDA 14.418).

Open Communities, a nonprofit fair housing organization based in Evanston, Illinois, will conduct investigation and enforcement of Title VIII violations under the Civil Rights Act of 1968, including fair housing testing and other investigative activities to identify discriminatory practices in housing sales, rentals, and mortgage lending. The award funds enforcement-related work targeting housing discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, or national origin.

The performance period runs from April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2027. Work is performed in Evanston, Illinois. The award is classified as a Project Grant, a form of direct assistance to a private nonprofit organization meeting CFDA 14.418 eligibility criteria for fair housing enforcement experience and capacity.

The program supports private nonprofits in investigating and enforcing fair housing rights, with the intended beneficiaries including persons aggrieved by discriminatory housing practices and housing providers seeking to prevent such discrimination.

Activities

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Expected outcomes

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Intended beneficiaries

Any person or group of persons aggrieved by discriminatory housing practices because of race, color, religion, SEX disability familial status or national origin. Persons or groups of persons, including landlords or real estate agents, to prevent discriminatory housing practices based on race, color, religion, SEX, disability, familial status or national origin. Award description source - assistance listing from SAM.GOV

Subrecipient activities

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