Transaction Description:
PURPOSE: THE PROPOSED PROJECT REPRESENTS THE CONTINUATION OF A STATEWIDE FAIR HOUSING EDUCATION INITIATIVE TARGETING UNSERVED AND UNDERSERVED AREAS AND POPULATIONS ACROSS THE STATE. NEEDS ARE MET BY IDENTIFYING AREAS OF NEED IN FAIR HOUSING EDUCATION, DEVELOPMENT OF TRAINING CURRICULA IN RESPONSE, AND PROVIDED TRAINING IN NORTHERN, CENTRAL, AND SOUTHERN AREAS OF THE STATE; MAXIMIZING PARTICIPANT REACH AND OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE. THE TARGETED AREAS UNDER THE PROPOSED INITIATIVE ARE LEON COUNTY (TALLAHASSEE) IN NORTH FLORIDA; ALACHUA COUNTY (GAINESVILLE) IN NORTH/CENTRAL FLORIDA; POLK COUNTY (LAKELAND/WINTER HAVEN) IN CENTRAL FLORIDA; AND LEE COUNTY (FT. MYERS) AND COLLIER COUNTY (IMMOKALEE, A PROMISE ZONE AREA) IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA. THE PROJECT IS DESIGNED TO REACH RURAL COMMUNITIES, COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, TRIBAL COMMUNITIES, MIGRANT FARM WORKER COMMUNITIES, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, LGBTQ+, AND OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE ENDURED GENERATIONS OF DISCRIMINATION AND DISINVESTMENT.; ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: HOPE WILL CONDUCT FIVE FAIR HOUSING SYMPOSIUMS IN EACH TARGETED AREA OF THE STATE. THE TRAINING CURRICULUM FOR EACH EVENT WILL BE TAILED TO THE AUDIENCE AND DESIGNED TO ADDRESS STRATEGIES THAT AFFIRMATIVELY FURTHER FAIR HOUSING AND ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF HUD’S PROGRAMS. THE FOCUS INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, UPDATES ON AFFIRMATIVELY FURTHERING FAIR HOUSING REQUIREMENTS, EXECUTIVE ORDERS, AND OTHER HUD RULES, REGULATIONS, AND GUIDANCE; IN ADDITION TO COMPLIANCE WITH THE FAIR HOUSING ACT AND ALL CIVIL RIGHTS RELATED PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS; INCLUDING AFFIRMATIVELY FURTHERING FAIR HOUSING, THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT, SECTION 504 OF THE REHABILITATION ACT OF 1973, TITLE II AND III OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, AFFIRMATIVE LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY, EQUAL ACCESS, USE OF CRIMINAL RECORDS, USE OF HUD’S REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION INTERACTIVE TOOL, ADDRESSING THE EXACERBATION OF HOUSING INEQUALITIES AND RACIALLY DISCRIMINATORY HOUSING PRACTICES FOLLOWING NATURAL DISASTERS. THE TRAINING ALSO INCLUDES A DETAILED OVERVIEW OF THE INTENT AND PRINCIPLES OF ACCESSIBILITY LAWS AND ACCESSIBILITY COMPLIANCE FOR REMOVING PHYSICAL BARRIERS. INFORMATION REGARDING THE DEVELOPMENT OF NONDISCRIMINATION POLICIES AS IT PERTAINS TO PROGRAM/HOUSING BENEFICIARIES AND EMPLOYEES WILL ALSO BE PROVIDED TO TRAINING PARTICIPANTS. THE CURRICULUM WILL ALSO INCLUDE SPECIFIC BEST PRACTICE SUGGESTIONS AND WAYS TO IMPLEMENT THESE PRACTICES TO ENSURE APPROPRIATE UNDERTAKING OF ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO ENSURE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL. THE PROGRAM WILL ALSO BE DESIGNED TO ASSIST COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH INFORMATION THAT WILL GIVE THEM ACCESS TO HUD AND LOCAL FHAP ORGANIZATIONS FOR ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE. THE EVENTS WILL BE AFFIRMATIVELY MARKETED BROADLY THROUGHOUT THE TARGET AREAS TO DEMOGRAPHIC GROUPS THAT WOULD BE UNLIKELY OR LEAST LIKELY TO ATTEND. EXPECTED OUTCOMES: EXPECTED OUTCOME INCLUDE INCREASED NUMBERS OF PERSONS’ AWARENESS OF FAIR HOUSING LAWS AND EFFECTIVELY EDUCATING THE GENERAL PUBLIC; FOSTERED COMPLIANCE WITH FAIR HOUSING LAWS AND COMPLY WITH CIVIL RIGHTS-RELATED PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS; IMPROVED AND INCREASED ACCESS TO FEDERALLY FUNDED AND OTHER HOUSING PROGRAMS; EXPANSION OF AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES IN A BROAD RANGE OF COMMUNITIES; CAPACITY BUILDING AND KNOWLEDGE SHARING BY PROVIDING PUBLIC AND PRIVATE COMMUNITY AGENCIES AND HOUSING PROVIDERS WITH SUBSTANTIVE INFORMATION REGARDING BEST PRACTICES; INCREASED NUMBERS OF INDIVIDUALS WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF HOUSING PROGRAMS AND HOUSING PROVIDERS RECEIVING INFORMATION ON FAIR HOUSING AND OTHER CIVIL RIGHTS RELATED PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS; AND STRENGTHENED PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE COORDINATION OF FAIR HOUSING EDUCATION AND ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS ACROSS THE STATE TO REACH THE TARGETED GROUP OF PARTICIPANTS, HOPE WILL PARTNER WITH THE FLORIDA COMMISSION ON HUMAN RELATIONS, A STATE FAIR HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (FHAP) HEADQUARTERED IN TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA (THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE). HOPE WILL UTILIZE ITS EXISTING PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS TO REACH PARTICIPANTS IN THE SOUTH FLORIDA. HOPE WILL ENGAGE WITH HUD’S MIAMI FIELD OFFICE TO MAXIMIZE PARTICIPATION OF HUD FUNDING RECIPIENTS.; EXPECTED OUTCOMES: EXPECTED OUTCOME INCLUDE INCREASED NUMBERS OF PERSONS’ AWARENESS OF FAIR HOUSING LAWS AND EFFECTIVELY EDUCATING THE GENERAL PUBLIC; FOSTERED COMPLIANCE WITH FAIR HOUSING LAWS AND COMPLY WITH CIVIL RIGHTS-RELATED PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS; IMPROVED AND INCREASED ACCESS TO FEDERALLY FUNDED AND OTHER HOUSING PROGRAMS; EXPANSION OF AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES IN A BROAD RANGE OF COMMUNITIES; CAPACITY BUILDING AND KNOWLEDGE SHARING BY PROVIDING PUBLIC AND PRIVATE COMMUNITY AGENCIES AND HOUSING PROVIDERS WITH SUBSTANTIVE INFORMATION REGARDING BEST PRACTICES; INCREASED NUMBERS OF INDIVIDUALS WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF HOUSING PROGRAMS AND HOUSING PROVIDERS RECEIVING INFORMATION ON FAIR HOUSING AND OTHER CIVIL RIGHTS RELATED PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS; AND STRENGTHENED PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE COORDINATION OF FAIR HOUSING EDUCATION AND ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS ACROSS THE STATE TO REACH THE TARGETED GROUP OF PARTICIPANTS, HOPE WILL PARTNER WITH THE FLORIDA COMMISSION ON HUMAN RELATIONS, A STATE FAIR HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (FHAP) HEADQUARTERED IN TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA (THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE). HOPE WILL UTILIZE ITS EXISTING PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS TO REACH PARTICIPANTS IN THE SOUTH FLORIDA. HOPE WILL ENGAGE WITH HUD’S MIAMI FIELD OFFICE TO MAXIMIZE PARTICIPATION OF HUD FUNDING RECIPIENTS.; INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT INCLUDE HOUSING PROVIDERS (MANAGEMENT COMPANIES), AFFORDABLE HOUSING PRACTITIONERS, PUBLIC HOUSING AGENCY EMPLOYEES, CIVIL/HUMAN RIGHTS INVESTIGATORS, COMMUNITY/ADVOCACY AGENCIES, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC. TO REACH TARGETED AUDIENCE, HOPE WILL PARTNER WITH THE FLORIDA COMMISSION ON HUMAN RELATIONS, A STATE FAIR HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (FHAP) HEADQUARTERED IN TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA (NORTH FLORIDA) AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS TO REACH PARTICIPANTS IN THE SOUTH FLORIDA. HOPE WILL CONTINUE TO ENGAGE WITH HUD’S MIAMI FIELD OFFICE TO MAXIMIZE PARTICIPATION OF HUD FUNDING RECIPIENTS AND PARTNERS BY UTILIZING ITS MAILING LIST TO MARKET THE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES.; SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES: NONE
