Fair Housing Initiatives Program Organizations Promoted Equity in the Education and Outreach Initiative

We audited the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP), Education and Outreach Initiative (EOI). We conducted this audit to help HUD determine whether the education and outreach provided was going to the people who have been systematically denied full housing opportunity. Our audit objective was to assess how FHIP organizations promoted equity within the EOI to reach underserved populations. FHIP organizations promoted equity within the EOI to reach underserved populations. We reviewed a selection of 10 FHIP organizations and found that they (1) researched and identified need in their area that included underserved populations, (2) developed a statement of work to address the need identified, and (3) developed a strategy to evaluate their performance. FHIP organizations performed research to complete needs assessments, using census data; local studies; their own past performance; and research on emerging issues, such as new laws focused on underserved populations. They evaluated their performance to ensure that their outreach provided impact, using client feedback, social media impressions, and intake referrals. As a result, the FHIP organizations provided fair housing outreach and education to underserved populations to increase awareness of fair housing rights and responsibilities. This report contains no recommendations.