Prairie State Wire

[CHICAGO, IL] – On August 23, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced a total of $2,125,000 in federal funding for Illinois housing non-profits from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  The funding comes from the Fiscal Year (FY23) Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) Second- and Third-Year Private Enforcement Initiative (PEI) grants.  Continuing the funding these organizations secured in FY21 and FY22 FHIP competitions, today’s PEI grants will support private, non-profit fair housing enforcement organizations that meet statutory requirements to conduct testing, investigate violations and obtain enforcement of the rights granted under the Fair Housing Act.  These grant recipients support and assist individuals who are the victims of housing discrimination.

“No one should have to worry about being denied access to safe housing because of what they look like or where they’re from,” Duckworth said. “This funding will help community organizations in the Chicagoland area continue their work to ensure every family has equal opportunity to rent, buy or finance a safe and affordable home.”

“While progress has been made, it is a sad reality that many families and individuals still face discrimination when it comes to finding housing,” said Durbin. “Today’s federal funding will give Illinois organizations the resources needed to continue their mission of ensuring that everyone has a fair chance at securing housing.”

Recipients of PEI grants include:

• Open Communities (Evanston): $425,000
• Rogers Park Community Council/Northside Community Resources (Chicago): $425,000

Recipients of PEI Multi-Year grants include:

• Access Living of Metropolitan Chicago (Chicago): $425,000
• Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (Chicago): $425,000
• Legal Aid Chicago (Chicago): $425,000

Original source can be found here.