Critical Updates on Fair Housing Funding and Advocacy!
FAIR HOUSING
Spring 2025 Newsletter
IMPORTANT UPDATES
2/27/2025: HUD Terminates HOME's PEI Grant
The Private Enforcement Initiative (PEI) grant is a multi-year grant supporting fair housing counseling, investigation, education and enforcement. HOME is currently in Year 2 of the 3-year grant. The annual grant award is $425,000. This represents approximately 30% of HOME’s annual funding. Across the country, other fair housing groups also received grant termination notices.
The sudden and immediate termination of the PEI grant will limit HOME’s ability to investigate, request Reasonable Accommodations or Modifications, mediate cases with housing providers and clients, and assist clients with filing fair housing complaints.
3/13/2025: Relman Colfax and four members of the National Fair Housing Alliance file of a lawsuit against HUD and DOGE
The lawsuit is brought on behalf of a proposed class of more than 60 fair housing groups whose grants were abruptly and unlawfully terminated by HUD and DOGE on February 27, 2025. Plaintiffs have moved for a temporary restraining order (TRO).
3/25/2025: Court Blocks HUD's Fair Housing Grant Terminations
Judge Richard G. Stearns of the U.S. District Court in the District of Massachusetts granted a temporary injunction stopping the termination of 78 Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) grants to fight housing discrimination.
The ruling ensures that fair housing organizations can continue their essential, work assisting individuals and families. For HOME, this means we can continue investigating discrimination cases, mediating disputes between housing providers and clients, assisting individuals in filing fair housing complaints, and continue training both consumers and housing providers on fair housing rights and responsibilities.
A message from HOME's Executive Director
Elizabeth Risch
HOME's Executive Director
“Fair housing and civil rights laws are unequivocal. Those laws haven’t changed in the last month ... Fair housing organizations like HOME are on the front lines of ensuring people have equal access to housing. We work everyday to help people with disabilities, families with kids, people of color all have places to call home that are safe and free from discrimination. We remain hopeful that the court’s decision will allow us to continue to do this critical work serving those in need and advancing housing access in Greater Cincinnati."
GOOD NEWS ROUNDUP
Highlighting inspiring stories and positive updates that uplift our community.
HOME Releases New Report on Racial Home Mortgage Lending Disparities
This report seeks to understand the role that mortgage lending plays in continuing the disparities in Black homeownership rates in the region.
To do this, HOME analyzed mortgage lending data reported by lending institutions through the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) over a six-year study period in Hamilton County, Ohio. Between 2018 and 2023, the housing market changed dramatically through COVID, rising and falling interest rates, and a tightening of housing supply. This volatile period affected national and local housing trends, including mortgage lending.
52 new affordable housing units have officially opened at Vandalia Point in Northside! This development is specifically aimed at providing housing opportunities for lower-income, working-class residents, helping to address the ongoing need for affordable options in the community. Shout out to OTR Community Housing for paving the path forward in ensuring more individuals and families have access to safe, stable, and affordable housing in the heart of Northside.
Fifth Third has broken ground on a new full-service banking center at Avondale Town Center on Reading Road—just over a month after HOME released our report on racial disparities in home mortgage lending across Hamilton County. This is a meaningful step towards revitalizing the Avondale community and expanding financial accessibility.
Thank you to everyone who joined HOME for our 2025 Fair Housing Luncheon this past Thursday! The energy, passion, and commitment to safe, fair housing were truly inspiring. We are deeply grateful to have supporters like you by our side!
HOME’s mission is to eliminate unlawful discrimination in housing in the Greater Cincinnati area. HOME advocates and enforces housing regulations for all protected classes and promotes stable, integrated communities.
Home Staff
Elisabeth Risch
Executive Director
LaTonya Springs
Assistant Director
Rebecca Griffin
Director of Education
Janet Brown
Director of Tenant Advocacy
Denes Benn
Director of Finance & Operations
Clementine Deck
Policy & Research Coordinator
Ayat Bell
Fair Housing Case Specialist
Teresita Lewis
Fair Housing Case Specialist
Chad Siekman
Testing Coordinator
Sarah Law
Tenant Advocate
Josh Johnson
NCRC Fellow
Maya Bere
Communications Specialist
Charline Wilondjae
Grants Account Specialist
Board of Directors
Harold Jones
President
Frank Bowen Jr.
Vice President
Julieta Simms
Secretary
Kyria Graves
Treasurer
Robert Hall
Larry Pauly
Deborah Jackson
Eric Barrett
Erica Parker
Shawn Jeffers
Val T. Davis
Dottie Lewis
Lydia Morgan
Gina Ruffin Moore
Stephanie Moes
Michael Cureton
Amy Goodman
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The work behind this publication was supported by funding under a grant with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The substance and findings of the work are dedicated to the public. HOME is solely responsible for the accuracy of the statements and interpretations contained in this publication. Such interpretations do not necessarily reflect the views of the Federal Government.
HOME of Greater Cincinnati | 2400 Reading Rd. Suite 118 | Cincinnati, OH 45202 US
