Title
Approval of Organization to Administer CDBG-funded Fair Housing Program.
Staff Summary
· On September 9, 2013, an RFQ was released for organizations to administer a Fair Housing Program, per the 2014 Housing & Community Development Annual Action Plan. This activity is funded with CDBG program funds.
· The purpose of the Fair Housing Program is to ensure compliance with the Federal Fair Housing Act ("Act"), part of the Civil Rights Act of 1968. This Act made it illegal to discriminate in housing on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, and sex. In 1988, Congress added familial status and disability to the categories protected under that law.
· Qualified organizations must be able to provide: 1) Education & Outreach; 2) Counseling/Referrals; 3) Investigation & Testing; 4) Mediation/Legal Services; and 5) Communications & Marketing. Ability to provide enforcement of the Act is preferred.
· One organization, Prairie State Legal Services, responded to the RFQ. This response was made available to the Executive Committee that will make a recommendation to the full Community Development Commission.
· Since May 2011, Prairie State has been the recipient of CDBG funds from Lake County, Waukegan and North Chicago to operate the Fair Housing Program for Lake County.