Fair housing organizations throughout Ohio gathered on May 29 to discuss concerns over the White House’s budget proposal to eliminate funding for the Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP). This program plays a vital role in protecting millions from housing discrimination. Advocates warn that cutting funds would severely weaken local enforcement and support systems.
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Budget Cuts Threaten Protections
The White House’s discretionary budget request proposes ending federal funding for fair housing initiatives, sparking alarm among Ohio’s fair housing advocates. The Fair Housing Initiatives Program, established in 1987 under President Ronald Reagan, has been instrumental in supporting individuals facing discrimination and enabling local organizations to enforce the Fair Housing Act. These efforts include conducting investigations, aiding complainants, facilitating conciliations, and preventing disputes from escalating.
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Guardians of Fair Housing
Darlene English, associate vice president of education and outreach at the National Fair Housing Alliance, highlighted the often unseen protections afforded to renters and mortgage applicants. “When you apply for an apartment or a mortgage loan, you may not realize that you may have been protected from housing discrimination,” she said. She emphasized that fair housing groups nationwide actively train landlords and educate mortgage lenders on their responsibilities, while also holding them accountable. Ohio’s organizations are an essential part of this network.
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Critical Local Partnerships
Shaker Heights, Cuyahoga County, depends heavily on its local FHIP agency to uphold fair housing standards. Lisa Gold-Scott, the city’s assistant director of law and assistant prosecutor, noted, “Without our local FHIP, the residents of Shaker Heights will be left with fewer resources, fewer options, and protections. It’s a partnership that has served our residents well.” The city’s collaboration with the agency has been pivotal in maintaining housing equity.
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Significant Yet Small Budget
George Thomas, CEO and general counsel of the Fair Housing Center for Lucas and Wood Counties, pointed out the disproportionate value of the FHIP budget, “The previous FHIP budget only accounted for 0.0008% of the total federal budget.” Despite its small size, this funding has a powerful impact, especially amid ongoing housing challenges across Ohio.
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Leading Enforcement Role
According to the National Fair Housing Alliance, FHIP-funded organizations process over 75% of all housing discrimination complaints, dwarfing the roughly 5% handled by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Thomas stressed, “We effectively enforce the Fair Housing laws for millions of Americans across the country, and certainly here in Ohio.” He added that these grantees save the government money by preventing discrimination-related homelessness and costly emergency interventions.
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No Replacement Support
Jim McCarthy, president and CEO of the Miami Valley Fair Housing Center, warned that if federal funding ends, Ohio lacks the infrastructure to compensate for the loss. “There’s not a system set up to provide the funding to us,” he explained. “So we need to maintain the FHIP program as is until there is a mindful and planned alternative for doing anything different.”
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