FHCCI News and Updates – 2013

November 20, 2013 – FHCCI Recognizes Transgender Remembrance Day: Today, the nation observes the 15th Annual Transgender Remembrance Day, remembering those who have suffered hate-motivated violence due to their gender identity, gender expression, or transgender status. In addition to violence experienced, the ability to access safe and affordable housing, free from discrimination, has been shown to be a barrier for those who are transgender. Read the entire press release here.

November 11, 2013 – FHCCI Honors Our Nation’s Servicemembers This Veterans’ Day: This Veterans’ Day, the Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana (FHCCI) honors our nation’s servicemembers for the sacrifices they have made and joins them to increase awareness and to enforce their rights to equal housing. Read the entire press release here.

October 15, 2013 – FHCCI Joins National Fair Housing Complaint Against U.S. Bank: Today, the National Fair Housing Alliance and six of its member organizations, including the FHCCI, announced that they have amended their federal housing discrimination complaint against U.S. Bank National Association. The civil rights groups allege that U.S. Bank continues to maintain and market foreclosed homes in white neighborhoods in a much better manner than in African-American and Latino neighborhoods. Failing to maintain and market homes because of the racial or ethnic composition of the neighborhood violates the federal Fair Housing Act. For more information on the case, go to:

October 9, 2013 – FHCCI Recognizes Domestic Violence Awareness Month: Each October, the nation honors those affected by domestic violence. The Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana (FHCCI) stands with survivors to ensure their livelihood and security by enforcing their rights to safe, equitable housing. Too often, individuals fleeing abusive situations experience a second victimization of being evicted or denied housing because of a history of calls to police or property damage caused by an abuser. Read the entire press release here.

September 16, 2013 – Neighborhood Stabilization Grants Available in Indy Neighborhoods of Color: The Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana (FHCCI) announces the availability of grants for non-profit agencies, unincorporated neighborhood groups, and homeowners. Funding will be awarded for projects and programs that invest in Indianapolis neighborhoods of color; foster homeownership; and promote diverse, inclusive communities. The FHCCI will provide three main funding sources:

  • Non-profits may apply for grants up to $75,000;
  • Unincorporated neighborhood groups may apply for grants up to $5,000; and
  • Homeowners with disabilities or signs of aging may apply for accessibility home modifications to allow them to age in place. Grants are estimated at up to $10,000 per home.

A $600,000 grant to the Mapleton-Fall Creek Development Corporation for neighborhood stabilization was also announced.

Read the entire press release or go to the grants page for info on that program.

Press Stories:

    • Neighborhood stabilization funding available, Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper, September 17, 2013: direct link
    • Indy Neighborhood Receives $600k for Rehabbing Homes, WFYI News, September 17, 2013: direct link
    • Wells Fargo settlement gives $600,000 in grants to aid Indy’s Mapleton-Fall Creek homes, Indianapolis Star, September 17, 2013: direct link
    • Mapleton-Fall Creek receives $600K grant, Fox 59, September 16, 2013: direct link
    • Community Group Lands Housing Grant, INSIDE iNDIANA BUSINESS, September 16, 2013: direct link

June 12, 2013 – HUD Awards Fair Housing Funds to FHCCI: The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today awarded $324,709 to the Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana to assist people in the Indianapolis metro area and surrounding counties who believe they have been victims of housing discrimination, expand training opportunities on fair housing laws and further collaborations to address housing discrimination. Read more here.

  • Press Stories:
    • Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana Receives More Than $324,000 in Grant Money, Indianapolis Star, September 25, 2013: direct link

June 6, 2013 – Fair Housing Groups Announce Fair Housing Settlement with Wells Fargo to Address Maintenance of Foreclosed Properties: Indianapolis neighborhoods of color will receive $1.42m in community relief from a national fair housing settlement announced today. This settlement is the first of its kind and the result of work by the Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana and its partners in a filed fair housing complaint which alleged that Wells Fargo’s REO (Real Estate Owned or foreclosed) properties in white areas were much better maintained and marketed by Wells Fargo than REO properties in Indianapolis African-American and Latino neighborhoods. For more information on the case or the settlement, see the press releases below:

April 10, 2013 – FHCCI Releases Report Showing Significant Levels of Housing Discrimination in Indianapolis Metro Area: A report released today by the Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana reveals many Hoosiers continue to experience significant levels of housing discrimination 45 years after the landmark federal Fair Housing Act became law. The report summarized fair housing rental testing in the Indianapolis metro area as it related to race, national origin, disability and familial status discrimination. View the press release here or download the full report.

  • Press Stories:
    • Housing audit finds discrimination in Indianapolis apartment rentals, Indianapolis Star, April 10, 2013: direct link
    • EXCLUSIVE SHOCKER! Testers Found 82% of Blacks Discriminated Against When Renting In Indy, Afternoons with Amos, April 10, 2013: direct link

April 2, 2013 – April is Fair Housing Month! Celebrate Through a Fair Housing Conference and Civil Rights Photography Exhibit: Learn more here.

February  2013 – State of Indiana Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing: The Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA) will convene five focus groups during February to identify impediments to fair housing.  To see more information or to view upcoming meeting dates, click here.

January 9, 2013 – Are You Listening Now? A National Investigation Uncovers Housing Discrimination against the Deaf and Hard of Hearing: Deaf and hard of hearing individuals face a variety of obstacles when interacting with the hearing world. One of those impediments is discriminatory treatment by housing providers that precludes equal access to housing opportunities. The National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA), in cooperation with eleven of its member organizations (including the Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana), conducted a national investigation of rental practices of rental firms to ascertain how deaf or hard of hearing persons were treated in comparison to hearing persons in the apartment housing search. We uncovered sustained patterns of housing discrimination against deaf and hard of hearing apartment seekers across the country. Read the report here.

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