The Miami Valley Fair Housing Center is awarded grants from
U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD)
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The U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) and the Miami Valley Fair Housing Center (MVFHC) are pleased to announce that HUD has awarded the Fair Housing Center two grants under the department’s Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP), which is the only federal funding source specifically for education, outreach, and enforcement activities by private, non-profit fair housing organizations.
The grants awarded to the MVFHC include:
FHIP – Education & Outreach Initiative (EOI): $125,000.00 for a twelve (12) month project wherein MVFHC will conduct Fair housing education workshops, continuing education workshops, special events and symposia to inform the public and housing professionals about their rights and obligations under the Fair Housing Act and substantially-equivalent state and local fair housing laws. The Fair Housing Center’s expected outcomes from the grant include reaching 32,000 persons face to face, 180,000 persons digitally, and distribute 70,000 pieces of printed material.
FHIP – Private Enforcement Initiative — Multi-Year (PEI-MYI) Component: $1,275,000.00 for a thirty-six (36) month project under which MVFHC will continue its Core Fair Housing Program to assist people who seek MVFHC’s help because they believe they have been the victim of housing discrimination. MVFHC will also begin a new project, the Housing Choice Systemic Testing Program, to assist people with housing choice vouchers get access to the housing of their choice in neighborhoods with high performing schools, access to jobs and transportation as well as quality affordable housing. MVFHC will also begin examining whether housing providers illegally discriminate against people with criminal records. The Criminal Records Systemic Testing Program will assist people who are re-entering society after incarceration get access to housing free from discrimination. The Fair Housing Center will address the significant gap in homeownership between people who are white and people who are Black by beginning the Systemic Lending Testing Program. Finally, MVFHC’s Environmental Justice Program will examine the effects of environmental hazards on people and neighborhoods of color while working with state and local officials as well as area advocates to address the issues uncovered.
Previous news items are available here. |
Resources and useful links
Special reports
Copies of special reports such as Analyses of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice released by local jurisdictions as well as other reports done by MVFHC on zoning and predatory lending are available on the reports page.
HomeOwnership Center of Greater Dayton
The Home Ownership Center is a non-profit organization that empowers local residents to achieve and sustain homeownership and financial success. They’ve helped thousands of individuals and families meet their homeownership goals through a variety of services offered at low or no cost. You can reach the HomeOwnership Center at 937-853-1600.
Fair Housing Accessibility FIRST is an initiative sponsored by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that promotes compliance with the Fair Housing Act design and construction requirements. Visit www.fairhousingfirst.org for instruction programs and useful online resources.
Additional Landlord/Tenant info
Also, if you are a landlord or a tenant wanting information on your rights and duties under Ohio law, the Dayton-Montgomery County Ombudsman's Office has a page about landlord/tenant issues.
Equal Housing Opportunity usage guidelines
Guidelines on the usage of the "Equal Housing Opportunity" logo and slogan are available online in the Services/Reference section.
Fair Housing Advertising Word and Phrase List
A word and phrase list intended as a guideline to assist in complying with state and federal fair housing laws is available online in the Services/Reference section.
Reasonable Modifications and Accommodations
Have questions about what your rights or responsibilities are under the federal Fair Housing Act for persons with disabilities? Now available online in the Services/Reference section are joint statements from the Department of Justice and the Department of Housing and Urban Development that explain reasonable modifications and accommodations.
Service Animal Policy
A Service Animal Policy is now available available online in the Services/Reference section. The policy explains what service animals are and how they are a reasonable accommodation under the Federal Fair Housing Act and also provides practice guidelines for housing providers and for tenants.
Energy Star is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy helping us all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices. To learn how you can save money in your home, visit www.energystar.gov.
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Although MVFHC does not provide assistance with landlord/tenant issues unrelated to discrimination, the booklet Your Rights and Duties as a Tenant, presented by Advocates for Basic Legal Equality, Inc. and Legal Aid of Western Ohio, Inc., is a useful resource.
