CHICAGO – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) earlier this month awarded more than $1.2 million to four fair housing organizations and non-profit agencies in Michigan to educate the public and combat housing and lending discrimination. Nationally, HUD awarded more than $40.8 million to 108 organizations.

The Michigan groups receiving the money include the Fair Housing of Metropolitan Detroit ($180,740), the Legal Services of Eastern Michigan ($259,384), Fair Housing Center of Southwest Michigan (grants of $183,549 and $302,766), and the Fair Housing Center of West Michigan ($274,604).

This year’s national award represents a $13.2 million increase over last year’s and includes $10 million to fund activities that address lending discrimination, including mortgage rescue scams. 

 “These grants enable community groups all over the nation to help HUD enforce the Fair Housing Act, make the public more aware of their fair housing rights and ensure that housing providers understand their responsibilities under the law,” said John Trasvin, HUD’s Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing & Equal Opportunity.

The grants are funded through HUD’s Fair Housing Initiatives Program and will be used to investigate allegations of housing discrimination, to educate the public and the housing industry about their rights and responsibilities under the Fair Housing Act, and to work to promote equal housing opportunities.

 For more info on HUD, visit  //www.hud.gov/news/index.cfm.