Fair Housing Center Of Northern Alabama

PRIVATE ENFORCEMENT

PRIVATE ENFORCEMENT INITIATIVES

PURPOSE: THE FAIR HOUSING CENTER OF NORTHERN ALABAMA (FHCNA) IS REQUESTING FUNDING TO SUPPORT FAIR HOUSING ENFORCEMENT, EDUCATION-OUTREACH, AND ADVOCACY WORK IN THE 29 COUNTIES OF NORTHERN ALABAMA. FUNDING WILL ALLOW THE CENTER TO CONTINUE ITS WORK IN UNDERSERVED, RURAL AND URBAN COMMUNITIES AND TO EXTEND SERVICES IN UNSERVED COMMUNITIES TO ADDRESS THE INADEQUACIES IN HOUSING. FUNDING FHCNA WILL ALLOW THE CENTER THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS POVERTY, SEGREGATION, INADEQUATE HOUSING STOCK, LACK OF EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, AND OTHER FACTORS AFFECTING HOUSING AND HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES. FHCNA'S PURPOSE IS TO SUPPORT DIVERSITY IN HOUSING, TO INCLUDE SUFFICIENT HOUSING STOCK, ADVOCATE FOR SUPPORTIVE AND NEEDED AMENITIES IN MANY NEIGHBORHOODS SUCH AS MEDICAL FACILITIES, BANKS, LENDERS, ADEQUATE FOOD SUPPLY AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, ALL WHICH MAKE UP AN IDEAL COMMUNITY. FHCNA FUNDED IS ALSO NEEDED TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE FOR SMALL TOWN OFFICIALS WHO MIGHT NOT BE AS WELL VERSED IN WHAT AFFIRMATIVELY FURTHERING FAIR HOUSING AND ADDRESSING RACIAL EQUITY MEANS TO THEIR COMMUNITIES AND HOW ADDRESSING THESE WILL OPEN DOORS FOR OTHER COMMUNICATIONS AND ACHIEVEMENTS.; ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: FILL ANY VACANCIES NEEDED, ASSIGN STAFF TO PROJECT AND REVIEW ALL TASKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE POSITIONS. FHCNA PROPOSES TO CONDUCT MEETINGS WITH CITY AND COUNTY OFFICIALS AND OTHER PROVIDERS OF HOUSING TO DISCUSS VARIOUS TOPICS SUCH AS HOUSING STOCK, EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, SEGREGATION, RESIDENTS WITH LIMITED ENGLISH DEFICIENCIES, DISABILITY ISSUES, ACCESSIBILITY TO CAPITAL, AND OTHER ISSUES THAT IMPACT GROWTH OF COMMUNITIES AND IMPACT ON RESIDENTS. FHCNA WILL CONTINUE TO PARTNER WITH AGENCIES THAT REPRESENT VARIOUS SEGMENTS OF THE COMMUNITIES SUCH AS HISPANICS, AFRICAN AMERICANS, DISABLED, PERSONS WITH LIMITED ENGLISH DEFICIENCIES, RURAL, LOW-INCOME, UNDERSERVED AND UNSERVED COMMUNITIES. STAFF WILL ATTEND COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS IN AREAS THAT HAVE ESTABLISHED GROUPS OR WILL CONVENE WHERE FEASIBLE MEETINGS TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS OF THE RESIDENTS. FHCNA WILL HOST ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS TO ALLOW HOUSING PROVIDERS AND SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO OPENLY DISCUSS AREAS OF NEED THEY SEE IN THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVICE AND SUGGESTED METHODS FOR ADDRESSING THE INEQUITIES THAT WILL BEST BENEFIT THEIR CLIENTS. FHCNA WILL ALSO HOLD ITS ANNUAL FAIR HOUSING MONTH SEMINAR AND LUNCHEON THAT PROVIDES FAIR HOUSING INFORMATION FROM NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED AND LOCAL FAIR HOUSING ADVOCATES ON SPECIFIC TOPICS OF INTEREST BOTH LOCALLY AND ON THE NATIONAL SCENE. SESSIONS WILL ADDRESS REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS, DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION, LENDING, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, AND OTHER TOPICS THAT IMPACT HOUSING AND THE LACK OF EQUITABLE ACCESS TO HOUSING. THE STUDENT POSTER CONTEST WILL REMAIN AN ADDITION TO OUR FAIR HOUSING MONTH CELEBRATION. HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM ALL 29 COUNTIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE. WE WILL CONTINUE DISTRIBUTING INFORMATION IN ENGLISH, SPANISH, GERMAN, AND KOREAN AS SOON AS IT BECOMES AVAILABLE. BILLBOARDS WILL BE STRATEGICALLY PLACED BASED UPON RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE MEDIA COMPANY FOR BEST EXPOSURE PARTICULARLY IN RURAL AREAS IN BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH. OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN USING FACEBOOK, TWITTER, LINKIN, OUR WEBSITE AND OTHER SOCIAL PLATFORMS WILL CONTINUE TO BE UTILIZED AS A MEANS OF DISTRIBUTING FAIR HOUSING INFORMATION. PERSONS ATTENDING ANY EVENTS REQUIRING SPECIAL ASSISTANCE WILL BE ASKED TO MAKE THEIR REQUEST IN ADVANCE SO THAT SERVICES MAY BE PROVIDED. WITH A.I. BECOMING A CONCERN IN THE HOUSING INDUSTRY PARTICULARLY REGARDING LENDING, AS NEW INFORMATION IS DEVELOPED, FHCNA WILL USE BILLBOARDS AND OTHER PRINTED MATERIALS TO ENLIGHTEN THE COMMUNITIES. OUR ENFORCEMENT COMPONENT WILL SERVE THE SEVEN PROTECTED CLASSES GUARANTEED PROTECTIONS UNDER THE FAIR HOUSING ACT. WE WILL INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS OF ALLEGED HOUSING DISCRIMINATION, MEDIATE OR CONCILIATE AGREEMENTS AND/OR MAKE REFERRALS TO HUD, DOJ OR PRIVATE ATTORNEYS. ALL INTAKES WILL FOLLOW THE HUD APPROVED INTAKE PROCEDURES. ALL NON-FAIR HOUSING CASES WILL BE REFERRED TO OTHER AGENCIES FOR ASSISTANCE. WHERE FAIR HOUSING COMPLAINANTS REQUIRE OUR SERVICES AND THOSE OF OTHER AGENCIES, PROPER REFERRALS WILL BE MADE. THE ENFORCEMENT COMPONENT WILL CONSIST OF RECRUITING AND TRAINING POTENTIAL TESTERS. MAKING TEST ASSIGNMENTS, DEBRIEFING TESTERS, AND EVALUATING TEST TO DETERMINE THE NEXT ACTION. FHCNA WILL CONDUCT BOTH COMPLAINT AND SYSTEMIC BASED TEST. THE TYPES OF TESTS WILL INCLUDE RENTAL, SALES, LENDING AND INSURANCE. MORE COMPLEX TEST SUCH AS DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION, APPRAISAL BIAS, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND CRIMINAL BACKGROUNDS HAVE ALL BEEN DEALT WITH BEFORE BUT ONLY AFTER A COMPLAINT HAS BEEN FILED AND WILL CONTINUE ON AN AS NEED BASIS UNTIL STAFF HAS RECEIVED TRAINING FOR THE MORE COMPLEX TESTING AND FEEL KNOWLEDGEABLE ENOUGH TO CONDUCT SYSTEMIC TESTING. THE SPECIFIC NUMBER OF EACH TYPE OF TEST WILL DIFFER EACH YEAR AND ADJUSTMENTS WILL BE MADE DURING NEGOTIATIONS TO REFLECT OUR PREVIOUS TESTS RESULTS, TYPES OF COMPLAINTS AND RESOLUTIONS. C. EXPECTED OUTCOMES: OUR AFFIRMATIVELY FURTHERING FAIR HOUSING ADVOCACY AND RACIAL EQUITY WORK SHOULD GENERATE PARTICULARLY IN RURAL, LOW-INCOME, UNSERVED AND UNDERSERVED AREAS, DISCUSSIONS ON LACK OF HOUSING STOCK, LACK OF JOB OPPORTUNITIES, NEED FOR SPECIALIZED HOUSING FOR THE ELDERLY AND DISABLED, AND SPECIAL ASSISTANCE FOR PERSONS WITH LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY. MEETINGS WITH OFFICIALS, COMMUNITY STAKE HOLDERS AND RESIDENTS WILL BEGIN A DIALOGUE AND THE PROCESS OF ADDRESSING CIVIL RIGHTS, SEGREGATION/INTEGRATION, PROBLEMS FACING THE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES, NEED FOR IMPROVED INFRASTRUCTURE, LIMITED ACCESS TO HOUSING, HOUSING MOBILITY, LACK OF ACCESS TO CAPITAL, AND OTHER LIMITED RESOURCES. IN SOME LOW-INCOME, RURAL COMMUNITIES, REGARDLESS OF THE EFFORTS MADE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE INEQUITIES IN HOUSING CHOICE, LITTLE OR NO PROGRESS WILL BE MADE DUE TO THE LIMITED HOUSING STOCK AND OWNERSHIP OF MUCH OF THAT STOCK. FROM THE INITIAL CONTACTS IN SOME OF THE SMALL RURAL AREAS, MANY CITY OFFICIALS ARE NOT AWARE OF POSSIBLE SOURCES OF FUNDING AND ONLY RELY UPON THEIR CDBG ALLOCATIONS FROM THE STATE FOR NON-ENTITLEMENT CITIES. FROM OUR ADVOCACY WORK IN THOSE AREAS, SOME SMALL EFFORTS TOWARD MAKING IMPROVEMENTS SHOULD BECOME EVIDENT OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. MAKING THE RESIDENTS AWARE OF THEIR FAIR HOUSING RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS THROUGH OUR MEDIA CAMPAIGNS, USING BILLBOARDS, PRINTED MATERIALS IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES, RADIO AND TELEVISION PSA'S WHERE POSSIBLE AND FACE TO FACE MEETINGS, WILL INEVITABLY CHANGE THEIR LIVES AND THEIR EXPECTATIONS OF WHAT CAN AND COULD POSSIBLY CHANGE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. WE ANTICIPATE AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS BEING FILED DUE TO OUR WORK IN BOTH OUR RURAL AND URBAN COMMUNITIES IF THIS PROPOSAL IS FUNDED. INCREASING THE UNDERSTANDING OF FAIR HOUSING IN ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY IN THE UNDERSERVED AND UNSERVED AREAS, THOSE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES, COMMUNITIES WITH PERSONS OF LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY AND LOW-INCOME AREAS, WITH A CLEARER UNDERSTANDING OF THE LAW, PERSONS WILL BETTER RECOGNIZE ACTS OF HOUSING DISCRIMINATION AND WILL BE MORE INCLINED TO FILE COMPLAINTS. WITH FREQUENT PERSONNEL CHANGES IN MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING PROVIDERS, FAIR HOUSING TRAININGS ARE ESSENTIAL TO THEIR PROVIDING QUALITY SERVICES AND WILL BE A CONTINUED SERVICE OFFERED. WHEN PROVIDING TRAININGS TO HOUSING PROVIDERS, AND OTHER INDUSTRY PARTICIPANTS, SUCH AS BUILDERS, OWNERS, AND ARCHITECTS, SOME DISCUSSIONS WILL INCLUDE REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION REQUEST, AND DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION ISSUES WITH MANY CURRENT UNITS. DISCUSSIONS SURROUNDING THE NEED FOR NEW SINGLE FAMILY ACCESSIBLE HOUSING, AS WELL AS AN INCREASE IN ACCESSIBLE MULTI-FAMILY UNITS, THE AGING POPULATION AND THE APPARENT NEED FOR THIS HOUSING AND THE FINANCIAL IMPACT THESE NEW HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES WOULD PRESENT SHOULD RESULT IN SOME EVENTUAL CONSTRUCTION. NEW CONSTRUCTION IN ALL AREAS WHETHER LARGE, SMALL, RURAL OR URBAN COMMUNITIES WOULD GENERATE JOB OPPORTUNITIES THUS MAKING A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE ECONOMY. OUR WORK WITH STUDENTS THROUGH OUR ANNUAL POSTER AND POETRY CONTESTS WILL SERVE TO INTRODUCE THEM TO THE CONCEPT OF FAIR AND EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL PEOPLE. PROVIDING THEM, THEIR SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES WITH FAIR HOUSING LITERATURE WILL INCREASE THE NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS WITH VALUABLE INFORMATION. ALL OF OUR ADVOCACY WORK THROUGH EDUCATION AND TRAININGS, COMMUNITY MEETINGS, DISCUSSIONS WITH CITY AND COUNTY OFFICIALS, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW PARTNERSHIPS WITH SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES, INTEREST GROUPS, PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE LOCAL HBCU'S, OTHER ADVOCACY GROUPS THAT REPRESENT LGBTQ+, HISPANIC AND OTHER ETHNICITIES, THE NAACP, RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS, AND OTHERS; EXPECTED OUTCOMES: EXPECTED OUTCOMES: OUR AFFIRMATIVELY FURTHERING FAIR HOUSING ADVOCACY AND RACIAL EQUITY WORK SHOULD GENERATE PARTICULARLY IN RURAL, LOW-INCOME, UNSERVED AND UNDERSERVED AREAS, DISCUSSIONS ON LACK OF HOUSING STOCK, LACK OF JOB OPPORTUNITIES, NEED FOR SPECIALIZED HOUSING FOR THE ELDERLY AND DISABLED, AND SPECIAL ASSISTANCE FOR PERSONS WITH LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY. MEETINGS WITH OFFICIALS, COMMUNITY STAKE HOLDERS AND RESIDENTS WILL BEGIN A DIALOGUE AND THE PROCESS OF ADDRESSING CIVIL RIGHTS, SEGREGATION/INTEGRATION, PROBLEMS FACING THE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES, NEED FOR IMPROVED INFRASTRUCTURE, LIMITED ACCESS TO HOUSING, HOUSING MOBILITY, LACK OF ACCESS TO CAPITAL, AND OTHER LIMITED RESOURCES. IN SOME LOW-INCOME, RURAL COMMUNITIES, REGARDLESS OF THE EFFORTS MADE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE INEQUITIES IN HOUSING CHOICE, LITTLE OR NO PROGRESS WILL BE MADE DUE TO THE LIMITED HOUSING STOCK AND OWNERSHIP OF MUCH OF THAT STOCK. FROM THE INITIAL CONTACTS IN SOME OF THE SMALL RURAL AREAS, MANY CITY OFFICIALS ARE NOT AWARE OF POSSIBLE SOURCES OF FUNDING AND ONLY RELY UPON THEIR CDBG ALLOCATIONS FROM THE STATE FOR NON-ENTITLEMENT CITIES. FROM OUR ADVOCACY WORK IN THOSE AREAS, SOME SMALL EFFORTS TOWARD MAKING IMPROVEMENTS SHOULD BECOME EVIDENT OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. MAKING THE RESIDENTS AWARE OF THEIR FAIR HOUSING RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS THROUGH OUR MEDIA CAMPAIGNS, USING BILLBOARDS, PRINTED MATERIALS IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES, RADIO AND TELEVISION PSA'S WHERE POSSIBLE AND FACE TO FACE MEETINGS, WILL INEVITABLY CHANGE THEIR LIVES AND THEIR EXPECTATIONS OF WHAT CAN AND COULD POSSIBLY CHANGE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. WE ANTICIPATE AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS BEING FILED DUE TO OUR WORK IN BOTH OUR RURAL AND URBAN COMMUNITIES IF THIS PROPOSAL IS FUNDED. INCREASING THE UNDERSTANDING OF FAIR HOUSING IN ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY IN THE UNDERSERVED AND UNSERVED AREAS, THOSE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES, COMMUNITIES WITH PERSONS OF LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY AND LOW-INCOME AREAS, WITH A CLEARER UNDERSTANDING OF THE LAW, PERSONS WILL BETTER RECOGNIZE ACTS OF HOUSING DISCRIMINATION AND WILL BE MORE INCLINED TO FILE COMPLAINTS. WITH FREQUENT PERSONNEL CHANGES IN MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING PROVIDERS, FAIR HOUSING TRAININGS ARE ESSENTIAL TO THEIR PROVIDING QUALITY SERVICES AND WILL BE A CONTINUED SERVICE OFFERED. WHEN PROVIDING TRAININGS TO HOUSING PROVIDERS, AND OTHER INDUSTRY PARTICIPANTS, SUCH AS BUILDERS, OWNERS, AND ARCHITECTS, SOME DISCUSSIONS WILL INCLUDE REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION REQUEST, AND DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION ISSUES WITH MANY CURRENT UNITS. DISCUSSIONS SURROUNDING THE NEED FOR NEW SINGLE FAMILY ACCESSIBLE HOUSING, AS WELL AS AN INCREASE IN ACCESSIBLE MULTI-FAMILY UNITS, THE AGING POPULATION AND THE APPARENT NEED FOR THIS HOUSING AND THE FINANCIAL IMPACT THESE NEW HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES WOULD PRESENT SHOULD RESULT IN SOME EVENTUAL CONSTRUCTION. NEW CONSTRUCTION IN ALL AREAS WHETHER LARGE, SMALL, RURAL OR URBAN COMMUNITIES WOULD GENERATE JOB OPPORTUNITIES THUS MAKING A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE ECONOMY. OUR WORK WITH STUDENTS THROUGH OUR ANNUAL POSTER AND POETRY CONTESTS WILL SERVE TO INTRODUCE THEM TO THE CONCEPT OF FAIR AND EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL PEOPLE. PROVIDING THEM, THEIR SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES WITH FAIR HOUSING LITERATURE WILL INCREASE THE NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS WITH VALUABLE INFORMATION. ALL OF OUR ADVOCACY WORK THROUGH EDUCATION AND TRAININGS, COMMUNITY MEETINGS, DISCUSSIONS WITH CITY AND COUNTY OFFICIALS, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW PARTNERSHIPS WITH SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES, INTEREST GROUPS, PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE LOCAL HBCU'S, OTHER ADVOCACY GROUPS THAT REPRESENT LGBTQ+, HISPANIC AND OTHER ETHNICITIES, THE NAACP, RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS, AND OTHERS, FROM ALL OF THIS, WE ANTICIPATE THE FINAL RESULTS TO INCLUDE NEW EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, INCREASED HOUSING OPTIONS, THE DECENTRALIZATION OF POVERTY, IMPROVED COMMUNICATIONS FOR PERSONS WITH LIMITED ENGLISH DEFICIENCIES, IMPROVEMENTS IN THE LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES AND A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE PREDOMINATELY BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES. WITH INCREASED KNOWLEDGE OF THEIR FAIR HOUSING RIGHTS, WE ANTICIPATE AT LEAST A 10 TO 15% INCREASE IN COMPLAINTS IN THE FIRST YEAR AND A GREATER INCREASE YEAR TWO AND THREE. THESE ALLEGED COMPLAINTS, AFTER THOROUGH INVESTIGATIONS, ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE OUR NUMBER OF CREDIBLE, LEGITIMATE FILINGS WITH HUD, DOJ OR PRIVATE ATTORNEYS. SITE VISITS TO UNSERVED AND UNDERSERVED AREAS WILL PROVIDE NEEDED INFORMATION TO DETERMINE THE LIKELY HOOD OF SUCCESSFUL TESTING. DUE TO THE LACK OF HOUSING STOCK IN SOME AREAS, WE ACKNOWLEDGE TESTING WILL NOT BE FEASIBLE. WORK IN NEW AND OR UNTAPPED TERRITORY WILL ALSO ASSIST IN OUR TESTER RECRUITMENT EFFORTS. WHERE TESTING IN THEIR COMMUNITIES WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE, NEW TESTERS CAN BE ASSIGNED TEST IN OTHER CITIES AND COUNTIES. D. INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: FHCNA WILL PROVIDE FAIR HOUSING EDUCATION-OUTREACH AND ENFORCEMENT SERVICES TO ALL PERSONS PROTECTED BY THE FEDERAL FAIR HOUSING ACT AND ALL CIVIL RIGHTS LAWS ADDRESSING FAIR AND EQUAL ACCESS TO HOUSING. THIS WILL INCLUDE ALL RESIDENTS IN OUR 29 COUNTIES SERVICE AREA.; INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: ASSISTANCE WILL BE PROVIDED REGARDLESS OF RACE, COLOR, NATIONAL ORIGIN, RELIGION, SEX, FAMILIAL STATUS OR DISABILITY. FHCNA STAFF WILL ATTEMPT TO COVER RURAL AND URBAN COMMUNITIES, REGARDLESS OF INCOME AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS. MUCH EMPHASIS WILL BE PLACED ON RURAL, LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES, BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES, AREAS WITH LIMITED ENGLISH SPEAKING RESIDENTS, SEGREGATED COMMUNITIES, COMMUNITIES LACKING ACCESS TO CAPITAL, AND COMMUNITIES WITH LOW HOUSING STOCK. DUE TO THE NUMBER OF REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION COMPLAINTS, EMPHASIS WILL ALSO BE DIRECTED TOWARDS PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES. WITH AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF APPRAISAL BIAS COMPLAINTS IN OUR SERVICE AREA, WITH MUCH OF THE INFORMATION COMING FROM REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS AND SOME MINORITY LENDERS, THE CENTER HAS FORMED AN APPRAISAL BIAS TASK FORCE TO STUDY ITS IMPACT. WE WILL INVESTIGATE ALLEGED APPRAISAL BIAS CASES WHEN OUR EXPERTISE AND RESOURCES WILL PERMIT. FHCNA HAS BEEN LIMITED IN ITS WORK IN SOME OF THE COUNTIES IN THE NORTHERN MOST PART OF OUR SERVICE AREA DUE TO DISTANCE AND LACK OF COMMUNICATION. WITH THE COVID PANDEMIC AND THE NEED FOR STUDENTS TO ACCESS COMPUTERS WHILE STUDYING FROM HOME, TOWERS WERE ERECTED GIVING RESIDENTS ACCESS TO CELLPHONE SERVICE AND GREATER USE OF COMPUTERS. PEOPLE IN THOSE AREAS ARE NOW ABLE TO ACCESS SOCIAL MEDIA NETWORKS SUCH AS FACEBOOK, LINKEDLN, TWITTER, OUR WEBPAGE AND OTHERS WHERE WE SHARE VALUABLE FAIR HOUSING INFORMATION. OUR VIEWER NUMBERS INCREASED OVER THE LAST YEAR SUPPORTING OUR THEORY THAT IMPROVED MEDIA ACCESS HAS LED TO GREATER EXPOSURE TO OUR FAIR HOUSING INFORMATION. THEREFORE, INCREASING THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE BENEFITTING FROM OUR PROJECT. FUNDING FOR THIS PROPOSED PROJECT WILL ONLY INCREASE OUR SERVICES AND IMPACT A GREATER NUMBER OF PEOPLE. THE AREAS REFERENCED ARE HIGHLY POPULATED WITH BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE, LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES, LOW HOUSING STOCK, SEGREGATED AND HAVE RESIDENTS WITH LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY, ARE RURAL AND EITHER UNDERSERVED OR UNSERVED. THIS HAS PROVIDED GREATER PENETRATION INTO OUR TARGET COMMUNITIES SERVICING A TARGETED GROUP OF PEOPLE. FHCNA CONTINUES TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF ITS URBAN AREAS WHERE SEGREGATION REMAINS A CONCERN, WHERE GENTRIFICATION CONTINUES TO DISPLACE RESIDENTS, WHERE AFFORDABLE HOUSING REMAINS A MAJOR CONCERN. OUR ADVOCACY EFFORTS REMAIN A PRIORITY IN IDENTIFYING THE NEEDS OF THESE COMMUNITIES AND THE PEOPLE IMPACTED. IN MOST OF THESE COMMUNITIES, PEOPLE OF COLOR AND LOW-INCOME ARE THE NEGATIVE BENEFICIARIES OF THESE INEQUITIES. OTHERS WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM THE PROPOSED PROJECT ARE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE, THOSE ENTERING THE COMMUNITY WITH CRIMINAL BACKGROUNDS, AND WHERE SOURCE OF INCOME IS PROHIBITING ACCESS TO HOUSING. THE CONDITIONS HIGHLIGHTED ABOVE WILL IMPACT PEOPLE OF ALL SEVEN PROTECTED CLASSES IN AT LEAST ONE WAY IN OUR 29 COUNTIES SERVICE AREA.; SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES: NONE

PRIVATE ENFORCEMENT INITIATIVES

PRIVATE ENFORCEMENT

EDUCATION AND OUTREACH INITIATIVES