HOME Receives Federal Grants to Expand Fair Housing Services In WNY
Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME), Western New York’s only comprehensive fair housing organization serving both tenants and landlords, recently received two grants from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for a combined $665,000. The funding is designated to combat housing discrimination through education and enforcement and to increase public awareness of specific housing issues, including environmental hazards and legal protections available based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
“This funding, along with the continued support of our members and community partners will allow HOME to continue to address the housing disparities of underserved communities, and work to eliminate barriers to safe, affordable, and accessible housing,” expressed HOME Executive Director, M. DeAnna Eason.
Through the Private Enforcement Initiative grant, HOME will receive $425,000 per year for three years to receive and investigate allegations of housing discrimination in Western New York. The grant also funds education activities to ensure tenants and housing providers are aware of legal protections available to WNY residents. A particular focus of this grant is expanding services for individuals with disabilities, ensuring that their housing options are not limited by a refusal to make homes livable for them.
HOME was also awarded $260,000 under the Fair Housing Organizations Initiative grant. This grant will allow HOME to expand its fair housing enforcement activities beyond their previous scope in two main areas. First, HOME will conduct more investigations into mortgage lending and begin building a program to investigate appraisal bias, which is an increasingly important aspect of fair housing. Second, HOME will increase outreach to LGBTQ+ communities to ensure they are able to fully exercise their rights in housing.
New York State Senator Sean Ryan said, “Solving New York’s housing affordability issues will require a comprehensive, holistic approach that addresses the various challenges faced by renters, landlords, and both current and prospective homeowners. The work Housing Opportunities Made Equal does to improve housing outcomes for all citizens should serve as a guide for the type of thinking we policymakers need to adopt if we want to make safe and affordable housing more accessible to everyone. I have no doubt that these grants are money well spent, and I am eager to see the impact they will have on the Buffalo community.”
“Housing Opportunities Made Equal has long been an advocate for fair and equal housing for the residents of Erie County. We have seen the negative impact mortgage lending and appraisal bias and LGBTQ+ discrimina tion has had on disadvantaged communities for decades. I am extremely happy that they are recipients of these two important grants to continue doing the good and necessary work in protecting our residents from dis crimination,” said Erie County Legislature Chairwoman April N.M. Baskin.