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's Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity awarded California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc. $425,000 on May 1, 2026, under the Private Enforcement Initiatives program (CFDA 14.418) to conduct fair housing investigation and enforcement activities through April 30, 2027.

CRLA delivers complaint intake, complaint investigation, fair housing testing, and enforcement addressing violations of Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 based on protected classes including race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, and national origin. The organization operates across more than 20 rural and underserved California counties, with administrative headquarters in Modesto. The award funds fair housing enforcement to remediate discriminatory housing practices in sales, rentals, financing, and related housing transactions affecting low-income individuals and families.

The Private Enforcement Initiatives program supports private non-profit fair housing enforcement organizations meeting qualification thresholds: Qualified Fair Housing Enforcement Organizations with at least two years of prior enforcement experience, or Fair Housing Enforcement Organizations with at least one year of enforcement experience in the two years preceding application. Recipients must conduct testing and other investigative activities to enforce rights and develop enforcement approaches under the Fair Housing Act or substantially equivalent state or local laws. Grant extensions may be requested within 30 days of the performance period end date subject to written approval from the Government Technical Representative.

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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