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Press Release

For Immediate Release
October 26, 2008
Contact: Sean C. Bonyun
(202) 225-3761

Upton Announces Funding to Combat Housing Discrimination in SW Michigan
Fair Housing Center of SW Michigan receives $162,225 HUD grant to fulfill its mission in eliminating all forms of housing discrimination in SW Michigan

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph) today announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded $162,225 to the Fair Housing Center of Southwest Michigan to curb housing discrimination.  The Fair Housing Initiative Program (FHIP) Private Enforcement Initiative grant will help carry out testing and enforcement activities to prevent or eliminate discriminatory housing practices.  Established in 1998, the Fair Housing Center of Southwest Michigan provides fair housing education and enforcement services for Barry, Branch, Calhoun, Kalamazoo, Allegan, St. Joe, Berrien, Cass and Van Buren counties. 

“This funding is another step toward ensuring that area residents have equal access to safe and affordable housing,” said Upton.  “We will not allow discrimination to prevent families across southwest Michigan from living in any home, apartment or neighborhood they can afford.  I applaud the terrific work of Robert Ells and his colleagues at the Fair Housing Center of Southwest Michigan in protecting the rights of every resident who is in search of a home.  Anyone who feels that they’ve been discriminated against, should call the Fair Housing Center at 269-276-9100 or toll free at 1-866-637-0733.  We cannot tolerate any form of prejudice, period.”

FHIP organizations partner with HUD to help people identify government agencies that handle complaints of housing discrimination. They also conduct preliminary investigation of claims, including sending “testers” to properties suspected of practicing housing discrimination.

“We are, of course, delighted that HUD has awarded the Fair Housing Center of Southwest Michigan a one-year grant to help fund our services throughout our nine-county service area,” said Robert H. Ells, Fair Housing Center of Southwest MichiganExecutive Director.  “These monies, along with the financial support we receive from the Cities of Kalamazoo, Portage and Battle Creek and the generosity of several local foundations and individual donations will allow us to continue our battle against housing discrimination.”

This Private Enforcement Initiative grant allows the center to perform testing of complaints of housing discrimination. The center assists individuals who have been discriminated against to either file a complaint with HUD or, the center has recruited cooperating attorneys to take referred cases on a contingency basis, to be filed in Federal or State Court.  The grant will help conduct complaint-based and targeted testing and other investigations of housing discrimination, link fair-housing organizations in regional enforcement activities, and establish effective means of meeting legal expenses in support of fair housing litigation. 

The mission of the FHIP program is to create equal housing opportunities for all persons living in America by administering laws that prohibit discrimination in housing on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, and familial status.  Grantees provide assistance to individuals who believe they have been victims of housing discrimination.

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