law_justice_and_legal_services · HUD

Fair Housing Initiatives Program - Administrative Enforcement Initiative

Department of Housing and Urban Development · OFH-2600-DC-021D

Closed

Award Range

$2.0M – $10.0M

Total Program Funding

$10.0M

Expected Awards

Deadline

August 6, 2026

GRANTQUICK SUMMARYPlain-English Overview

HUD is giving MASSIVE awards ($10M each, only 3 awards) to state or local government FAIR HOUSING ENFORCEMENT agencies — the civil rights agencies that investigate and adjudicate housing discrimination complaints at the state/local level. This funds the administrative enforcement process: intake, investigation, conciliation, hearings, and orders. ONLY government agencies qualify.

Who Should Apply

State or local government fair housing enforcement agencies (state civil rights commissions, local human rights commissions) that have been certified by HUD as "substantially equivalent" to the federal Fair Housing Act.

Who Should NOT Apply

Private nonprofits (use PEI or EOI grants instead), federal agencies, organizations without government enforcement authority, or agencies not certified as substantially equivalent by HUD.

Key Requirements (Plain English)

•Must be a state or local GOVERNMENT enforcement agency
•Must be HUD-certified as substantially equivalent
•Must investigate and adjudicate fair housing complaints
•Only 3 awards of up to $10M each
•Must use funds for administrative enforcement activities

💡 GrantQuick Tip

Only ~80 agencies nationally are HUD-certified as substantially equivalent — and only 3 awards are made. This is for the largest, most active state/local enforcement agencies (California DFEH, NYC Commission on Human Rights, Illinois DCEO type entities). If you're a small-town human rights commission, you probably lack the case volume to justify $10M.

Competitiveness: Moderate — 3 awards from ~80 eligible agencies. But the $10M size means only the largest/most active agencies will submit competitive applications.

What This Grant Funds

Recipients must use AEI funds to "develop, implement, carry out, or coordinate programs or activities designed to obtain enforcement of the rights granted by [the Act] or by State or local laws that provide rights and remedies for alleged discriminatory housing practices that are substantially equivalent to the rights and remedies provided in [the Act]..." 42 USC § 3616a(a); 24 CFR § 125.201.

Attachments

PDF

Foa_Content_of_OFH-2600-DC-021D.pdf

Who Can Apply

Eligible Entities. In accordance with 42 U.S.C. 3616a(a), to receive an award under this NOFO you must be a State or local government or their agency that participates in the Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP). 24 CFR § 115. FHAP agencies cannot be currently under suspension or a performance improvement plan under 24 CFR § 115.210(a) or (b). Individuals, foreign entities, and sole proprietorship organizations are not eligible to compete for, or receive, awards made under this announcement.

Eligible Applicant Types

Other (see NOFO for details)

Funding Details

Minimum Award: $2.0M
Maximum Award: $10.0M
Total Program Funding: $10.0M
Expected Number of Awards: 3
Cost Sharing Required?: No
Funding Instrument: grant

Key Dates

Posted: July 2, 2026

Application Deadline: August 6, 2026 (0 days remaining)

Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 11:59 p.m., ET, on the listed application due date.

Agency Contact

Katherine Vasilopoulos katherine.vasilopoulos@hud.gov

katherine.vasilopoulos@hud.gov

Ready to apply?

View the full NOFO and submit your application on Grants.gov

View on Grants.gov