Transaction Description:
PURPOSE: PURPOSE (UP TO 3,600 CHARACTER LIMIT): THE FUNDS REQUESTED HEREIN WILL PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE FAIR HOUSING SERVICES TO CENTRAL AND NORTHERN NEW YORK. THIS INCLUDES TWELVE COUNTIES CURRENTLY WITHIN CNY FAIR HOUSING’S CATCHMENT AREA, BROOME, CAYUGA, CORTLAND, HERKIMER, JEFFERSON, LEWIS, MADISON, ONEIDA, ONONDAGA, OSWEGO, ST. LAWRENCE, TOMPKINS, AND TWO COUNTIES THAT WILL BE ADDED TO THE AGENCY’S CATCHMENT AREA, OTSEGO AND CHENANGO. THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT NEED FOR FAIR HOUSING ENFORCEMENT AND EDUCATION IN THIS AREA DUE TO HIGH LEVELS OF RACIAL AND ETHNIC SEGREGATION, LARGE POPULATIONS OF REFUGEES AND NEW AMERICANS IN NEED OF SERVICES AND EDUCATION, AND CONSISTENT DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES AGAINST PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN, AND WOMEN.; ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: ENFORCEMENT AND EDUCATION ACTIVITIES WILL FOCUS ON DISCRIMINATION BASED ON RACE, NATIONAL ORIGIN, GENDER, DISABILITY, AND FAMILIAL STATUS AS THESE ARE ISSUES OF PRIMARY CONCERN IN OUR REGION. B. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED (UP TO 4,900 CHARACTER LIMIT) • TRAIN STAFF ON FAIR HOUSING • CONDUCT 140 INTAKES OF FAIR HOUSING DISCRIMINATION ANNUALLY AS THE FIRST STEP IN DETERMINING IF A FAIR HOUSING INVESTIGATION IS WARRANTED. • CONDUCT 100 INCOMING COMPLAINTS OF NON-FAIR HOUSING RIGHTS VIOLATIONS ANNUALLY FOR COMMUNITY REFERRALS • ANALYZE THE BUSINESS PRACTICES OF 6 HOUSING PROVIDERS IN YEAR ONE, 8 IN YEARS TWO AND THREE, OF ALL TYPES FOR COMPLIANCE WITH FAIR HOUSING LAWS. • CONDUCT 5 MARKET REVIEWS ANNUALLY PRIOR TO TESTING TO DETERMINE MOST EFFECTIVE METHODOLOGIES TO ACHIEVE ACCURATE TESTING RESULTS. • IDENTIFY 15 TESTING TARGETS ANNUALLY PRIOR TO TESTING BASED ON PRIOR COMPLAINTS, DEMOGRAPHIC ANALYSES, AND ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE • RECRUIT 15 TESTERS IN YEAR ONE, 10 IN YEARS 2 AND 3, ENSURING THAT WE HAVE A POOL OF TESTERS THAT IS DIVERSE AND APPLICABLE TO THE TYPES OF TESTING PROPOSED FOR THIS PROJECT, AND SUITABLE FOR THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE. • TRAIN 10 TESTERS IN YEAR ONE, 8 IN YEARS TWO AND THREE, FOR PARTICIPATION IN RENTAL TESTS. • CONDUCT ADVANCED TRAINING FOR 4 TESTERS IN YEAR ONE, 2 IN YEARS TWO AND 3, FOR PARTICIPATION IN SALES, DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION, OR INSURANCE TESTS. • CONDUCT 10 SYSTEMIC INVESTIGATIONS OF HOUSING DISCRIMINATION ANNUALLY. • ADMINISTER 64 RENTAL TEST PARTS ANNUALLY. • CONDUCT 14 TEST PARTS OF REAL ESTATE SALES ANNUALLY TO INVESTIGATE THE PRESENCE OF DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF RACE AND/OR NATIONAL ORIGIN AS WELL AS OTHER PROTECTED CLASSES AS WARRANTED BY COMPLAINTS AND MARKET ANALYSES. • CONDUCT 6 DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION TEST PARTS ANNUALLY TO INVESTIGATE THE PRESENCE OF VIOLATIONS OF DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS. • CONDUCT 4 LENDING TEST PARTS IN YEAR ONE AND 8 IN YEARS TWO AND THREE TO INVESTIGATE THE PRESENCE OF LENDING DISCRIMINATION IN HOUSING SALES ANNUALLY. • CONDUCT FAIR HOUSING COUNSELING FOR 60 HOUSEHOLDS ANNUALLY IN NEED OF INFORMATION REGARDING THEIR FAIR HOUSING RIGHTS • ASSIST 20 CLIENTS WITH REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION/MODIFICATION REQUESTS ANNUALLY. • REVIEW RESULTS OF 60 INVESTIGATIONS AND PURSUE ENFORCEMENT OPTIONS FOR MERITORIOUS CLAIMS INCLUDING ADMINISTRATIVE AND LEGAL COMPLAINTS ANNUALLY. • MEDIATE/CONCILIATE 4 COMPLAINTS ANNUALLY. • CONDUCT 4 COMPLIANCE REVIEWS ANNUALLY TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS, CONSENT DECREES, OR OTHER CONCILIATION AGREEMENTS. • MONITOR ZONING CHANGES FOR THE 8 CDBG ENTITLEMENT JURISDICTIONS ANNUALLY. • CONDUCT 6 PROFESSIONAL SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS THROUGHOUT OUR SERVICE AREA ANNUALLY TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AND SERVICE PROVIDERS WORKING WITH MEMBERS OF PROTECTED CLASSES ABOUT FAIR HOUSING, TO GENERATE REFERRALS, AND TO ADVISE THEM OF THE AVAILABILITY OF THE PROJECT'S SERVICES. • CONDUCT 6 SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS OR MEETINGS WITH HOUSING INDUSTRY GROUPS INCLUDING LANDLORDS, LENDERS, OR REAL ESTATE AGENTS ANNUALLY TO EDUCATE AND TRAIN THEM ON FAIR HOUSING RESPONSIBILITIES. • PROVIDE 2 TRAININGS TO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND PARTNERS ANNUALLY TO AFFIRMATIVELY FURTHER FAIR HOUSING IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF HUD’S PROGRAMS. • DEVELOP PARTNERSHIPS WITH 4 NEW AGENCIES/ORGANIZATIONS ANNUALLY TO INCREASE REFERRALS FROM RACIALLY SEGREGATED NEIGHBORHOODS. • DISTRIBUTE TRANSLATED FAIR HOUSING MATERIALS TO 200 NON-ENGLISH SPEAKERS ANNUALLY. • DISTRIBUTE 1,200 PUBLICATIONS ANNUALLY TO EDUCATE AND INFORM PEOPLE ABOUT FAIR HOUSING. • MAINTAIN A REGULARLY UPDATED, INFORMATIVE AND USEFUL WEBSITE THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT. WEBSITE TO RECEIVE 8,000 VIEWS ANNUALLY. • MAINTAIN SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS INCLUDING FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM AND X TO PROMOTE FAIR HOUSING AWARENESS. • CONDUCT 2 ANALYSIS OF HOUSING PATTERNS TO DETERMINE DISCRIMINATORY HOUSING PRACTICES IN JURISDICTIONS ANNUALLY. • PROMOTE OPPORTUNITIES FOR INCLUSIVE PATTERNS OF HOUSING OCCUPANCY IN 3 JURISDICTIONS SERVED BY THE FHIP AGENCY ANNUALLY.; EXPECTED OUTCOMES: EXPECTED OUTCOMES (UP TO 4,900 CHARACTER LIMIT) CNY FAIR HOUSING EXPECTS 60 FAIR HOUSING INVESTIGATIONS TO BE CONDUCTED ANNUALLY AND 60 HOUSEHOLDS TO BE COUNSELED ANNUALLY TO PROMOTE FAIR HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES. CNY FAIR HOUSING WILL IDENTIFY SYSTEMIC DISCRIMINATORY HOUSING PRACTICES TO TARGET FOR TESTING AS WELL AS UTILIZE ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE FROM CURRENT AND PAST FHIP PROJECTS. ANY FINDINGS OF SYSTEMIC DISCRIMINATION THROUGH TESTING WILL BE REFERRED FOR INVESTIGATION AND MERITORIOUS CLAIMS WILL BE REFERRED FOR COMPENSATORY AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF, WITH A RESULT OF 4 TO BE MEDIATED/CONCILIATED ANNUALLY. COMPLIANCE REVIEWS WILL BE CONDUCTED AND COMPLIANCE WITH INJUNCTIVE PROVISIONS WILL BE MAINTAINED, AND FAIR HOUSING RIGHTS WILL BE PROTECTED.; INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: INTENDED BENEFICIARIES (UP TO 3,600 CHARACTER LIMIT) INTENDED BENEFICIARIES OF THIS PROJECT ARE LOW-INCOME AND EXTREMELY LOW-INCOME PERSONS AND HOUSEHOLDS, THE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY, FEMALE-HEADED HOUSEHOLDS, DISABLED INDIVIDUALS, AND FAMILIES IN CNY FAIR HOUSING’S FHIP SERVICE AREA; SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES: NONE
