Summary: In 1988, the Fair Housing Initiatives Program was established to assist public and private organizations fight housing discrimination. GAO was asked to review how funds are allocated among funding categories and what level demand exists for funds, and who receives funds and how they are being used. From the program's inception through fiscal year 1997, the Congress has appropriated $113 million to carry out this program. Funds are allocated among four funding categories: private enforcement for private nonprofit groups; the fair housing organizations initiative for private nonprofit entities, education and outreach for private and public entities, and administrative enforcement for state and local agencies. The largest portion, more than $40 million, has been made available for the private enforcement initiative. Through fiscal 1996, 220 organizations in 44 states and the District of Columbia received program grants. Other than enforcement activities, funds have been used for a variety of other activities, such as litigation, new fair housing organizations, pamphlets and brochures, advertisements, and conferences and seminars on fair housing.
