FHEO Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Briefing for Georgia Elected Officials February 1,...

FHEO

Office of Fair Housing and Equal OpportunityBriefing for Georgia Elected Officials

February 1, 2007 Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center

FAIR HOUSING! IT’S NOT AN OPTION. IT’S THE LAW!!

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Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO)

Enforces the Fair Housing Act and other civil rights laws

Ensures the right to equal housing opportunity and fair housing choice without discrimination

Promotes & ensures equal opportunity in all HUD-assisted programs

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FHEO’s Mission

Our enforcement of the law covers most housing transaction in the United States

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FHEO MISSION

Investigate complaints of housing discrimination/ initiate enforcement

Promote fair housing education and outreach

Monitor recipients of Federal financial assistance

Ensure compliance with civil rights laws

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Federal Financial Assistance

Includes grants, loans, and advances of Federal funds

Any Federal agreement, arrangement, or other contract that intends, as one of its purposes, to provide assistance.

NOTE: Does not include Tenant-Based Section 8 voucher (subsidy tied to tenant)

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FHAP

Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP) reimburses State & local agencies that enforce laws substantially equivalent to the Fair Housing Act.

– There are 103 FHAP Agencies (That includes 36 States,including the District of Columbia, and 67 localities).

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Georgia Commission on Equal Opportunity Gordon Joyner, Executive Director/AdministratorMartin Luther King Jr., DriveAtlanta, Georgia 30303Tele: ( 800)673-4736

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FHIP

Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) provides funding to nonprofits, community groups, & faith-based organizations to carry out private enforcement & education.

• In 2006, $20.3 million was awarded to 113 Grantees across the country.

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Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP)

provides funding to FHAPs, other local gov’t agencies, and private entities carrying out programs to prevent or eliminate discriminatory housing practices.

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FHIP Activities

Conduct education and outreach Conduct preliminary investigation

of allegations of housing discrimination File Fair Housing complaints with HUD Testing Represent Complainants

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JC Vision and Associates, Inc.

Dana Ingram, Executive Director135-C East Martin Luther King Jr., DriveP.O. Box 1972Hinesville, Georgia 31310Tele: (912) 877-4243Fax: (912) 877-4274

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Savannah-Chatham County Fair Housing Council David Wayne Dawson, Executive Director7 Drayton Street, Suite #206Savannah, Georgia 31401Tele: (912) 651-3136Fax: (912) 651-3137Toll Free: (888) 570-5082

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FHEO Organizational Structure

10 Regional Offices Regional FHEO Office located in Atlanta

– Receives all housing discrimination inquiries

3 FHEO Centers: Atlanta, Miami, & Louisville. 12 Local HUD Offices (Miami, Jacksonville,

Orlando, Tampa, Puerto Rico, Knoxville, Memphis, Columbia, Greensboro, Jackson, Birmingham, Louisville)

– Investigate cases involving Respondents receiving Federal financial assistance and reactivated

HUD Partners: FHAP & FHIP Agencies

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Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

prohibits housing discrimination because of

in programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance

File within 180 days of the alleged act

Race Color National Origin

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Race Color Religion Sex

Handicap (disability) Familial status National Origin

Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, as amended by the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 (the Fair Housing Act)

Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, as amended by the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 (the Fair Housing Act)

prohibits housing discrimination because of:

File within 365 days of the alleged act

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Section 109 of Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974

Section 109 of Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974

No person shall be excluded from participation in, denied benefits of, or subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving community development funds because of

File within 180 days of the alleged act

Race Color Religion

Sex National Origin

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Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

No qualified individual with a disability shall be excluded from participation in, denied benefits of, or subjected to discrimination under any program receiving HUD funds

File within 180 days of the alleged act

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Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA)

Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA)

Prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability by public entities

Applies to all services, programs, and activities provided or made available by public entities*

Includes all activities of State and local governments whether or not they receive Federal funds

File within 180 days of the alleged act

**Private entities such as hotels, restaurants, theaters, retail stores, doctors’ offices, recreation facilities, etc. are covered by title III of the ADA

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Section 3 of the Housing and Urban

Development Act of 1968

Ensure that economic opportunities (Jobs, training, & contracts) resulting from HUD financial assistance will be directed to low and very low-income persons - particularly those receiving government assistance for housing.

File within 180 days of the alleged act

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Region IV - Title VIII Cases Rec'd

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

Basis

# o

f C

as

es

FY03 52 480 2 7 150 38 197 507 214

FY04 58 537 4 6 188 148 174 501 230

FY05 53 557 5 12 199 40 185 512 241

Race White Race AA NA AsianNational

OriginReligion Gender Disability Famial Status

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# OF INVESTIGATIONS COMPLETED IN FY05

85 90

22

268

336

246

59

142

100

493

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

BOSTON NEW YORK PHILA ATLANTA CHICAGO FT WORTH KANSAS DENVER SF SEATTLE

REGIONAL OFFICES

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Conciliations: 82 conciliated cases provided

monetary relief for the complainant for a total of $382K;

53 cases withdrawn with a settlement - complainants received monetary relief for a total amount of $19,100

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Public interest Settlements.    Bishop v. Fifth Third Bank, the Respondent

provided in loans, grants and other financial support to improve the participation of minority borrowers.

   In Gouisha, Medester v. Kentucky Housing Corporation, $4,000,000 over a two year period for victims of domestic violence and homeless families.

O’Neill v. Astralis Condo Association, a $1,000,000 bond in support of the design and construction improvements.

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Questions?? ContactsQuestions?? Contacts

JCVision, (912) 877-4243 (FHIP) Savannah Chatham FHC, 888-570-5082 (FHIP) Georgia Commission on Equal Opportunity, 800-

473-6736 (FHAP) US HUD NATIONAL DISCRIMINATION

HOTLINE: 800-669-9777 HUD REGION IV Discrimination Hotline

800-440-8091