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Grants / Justice and legal services

FAIR HOUSING INITIATIVES PROGRAM PRIVATE ENFORCEMENT INITIATIVE

Department of Housing and Urban Development

Deadline
November 2, 2026in 13 daysElectronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 11:59 p.m., ET, on the listed application due…
Award size
$500,000 to $1.5 millionAbout 13 awards
Matching funds
Not required
Fit for small groups
Better for larger organizations

In plain language

This grant helps organizations that investigate and enforce fair housing laws. It pays for activities like testing for housing discrimination and handling complaints.

The money can pay for

  • Investigating fair housing complaints
  • Testing for housing discrimination
  • Enforcing fair housing laws
  • Supporting fair housing enforcement activities

Who can apply

Private, tax-exempt, nonprofit organizations that are currently doing fair housing enforcement work and meet specific experience requirements.

Is it a fit for a small group?

Better for larger organizations. This grant is for organizations with specific fair housing enforcement experience and is not designed for small community nonprofits that may not have the required background or capacity.

Before you apply

  • Must be a QFHO or FHO with specific experience
  • Must complete Appendix B certification
  • Only 13 awards will be made
  • Federal applicants need an active registration at SAM.gov and a Grants.gov account. Registration can take several weeks, so start early.

This summary was written by GrantGather with AI, based on the official listing. It can contain mistakes. Check the official listing on Grants.gov before you apply.

From the official listing

Congress amended the Fair Housing Act in 1988 to establish the Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) to provide funding to entities to work alongside HUD to "prevent or eliminate discriminatory housing practices" 42 USC §3616a (a). Congress determined in 1987, and has affirmed each year since then through appropriations, that HUD can only achieve its fair housing mission and obligations through supporting a network of organizations helping to educate the public and enforce fair housing rights. Initially a demonstration program, Congress made FHIP permanent in 1992 through the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992. The program was expanded in 1992 to address building capacity in unserved areas, establish a national media campaign, and fund a National Fair Housing Month.FHIP provides funds to eligible organizations through competitive grants under four initiatives: the Fair…

Read the full description

Congress amended the Fair Housing Act in 1988 to establish the Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) to provide funding to entities to work alongside HUD to "prevent or eliminate discriminatory housing practices" 42 USC §3616a (a). Congress determined in 1987, and has affirmed each year since then through appropriations, that HUD can only achieve its fair housing mission and obligations through supporting a network of organizations helping to educate the public and enforce fair housing rights. Initially a demonstration program, Congress made FHIP permanent in 1992 through the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992. The program was expanded in 1992 to address building capacity in unserved areas, establish a national media campaign, and fund a National Fair Housing Month.FHIP provides funds to eligible organizations through competitive grants under four initiatives: the Fair Housing Organizations Initiative (FHOI), the Private Enforcement Initiative (PEI), the Administrative Enforcement Initiative (AEI), and the Education and Outreach Initiative (EOI).This NOFO funds the PEI to provide grants to a nationwide network of eligible private, non-profit fair housing enforcement organizations to conduct testing and investigate violations of and enforce the Fair Housing Act, and State or local laws with equivalent rights and remedies.

Opportunity number
OFH-2600-DC-021C
Posted
July 2, 2026
Total funding
$14 million
Eligible applicants
Others (see eligibility details)
Eligibility details
To receive an award under this NOFO your organization must be organized as a private, tax-exempt, nonprofit, charitable 501(c) (3) organization currently engaged in complaint intake, complaint investigation, testing for fair housing violations, and enforcement of meritorious claims; and either a: Qualified Fair Housing Enforcement Organization (QFHO) with at least two years of experience in all of the following fair housing enforcement related activities in the three years prior to filing the application hereunder: complaint intake, complaint investigation, testing for fair housing violations, and enforcement of meritorious claims experience; or a Fair Housing Enforcement Organization (FHO) with at least one year of experience in all of the following fair housing enforcement related activities: complaint intake, complaint investigation, testing for fair housing violations, and enforcement of meritorious claims experience. See 42 U.S.C. §3616a (b) and (h). You must complete Appendix B, Certification for PEI Applicants, to certify QFHO or FHO status. If your organization does not currently qualify as a QFHO or FHO (see 24 CFR §§ 125.103 and 125.401), you may be eligible to apply under the FHIP Education and Outreach Initiative (EOI), or Fair Housing Organizations Initiative (FHOI) NOFOs. Please see each NOFO for specific eligibility requirements. If an applicant applies for both a PEI and FHOI Continuing Development Component grant and receives an award for both, HUD will…
Assistance listing
14.418 Private Enforcement Initiatives
Agency contact
Department of Housing and Urban Development
katherine.vasilopoulos@hud.gov
202-402-2440
Open the official listing on Grants.govAgency’s full announcement

Nonprofits are eligible here through the “Others” category. Read the eligibility details carefully.