Four local fair housing centers — representing a class of federal fair housing grant recipients whose grants were terminated — are suing the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The legal action follows HUD’s termination of grants disbursed under the Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP). The federal lawsuit, filed in the District of Massachusetts, was brought on behalf of a proposed class of more than 60 fair housing groups whose grants were terminated by HUD and DOGE on Feb. 27. Seventy-eight FHIP grants were terminated in 33 states without advance notice. Plaintiffs have moved for a temporary restraining order. For decades, fair housing groups — funded by FHIP — have served local communities by investigating housing discrimination complaints, assisting individuals facing discrimination, educating communities about their rights, and collaborating with the housing industry and local governments. The four named plaintiffs in the temporary restraining order (TRO) filing are the Massachusetts Fair Housing Center, Intermountain Fair Housing Council, Fair Housing Council of South Texas, and Housing Research and Advocacy Center.
Source: NAR; 3/14/2025