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Department of Housing and Urban Development

FAIR HOUSING INITIATIVES PROGRAM PRIVATE ENFORCEMENT INITIATIVE

Open · Opportunity OFH-2600-DC-021C · Assistance Listing 14.418

Key facts

Deadline
Due Nov 2, 2026 · 26 days left
Award size
$500K – $1.5M
Total available
$13.5M · about 13 awards
Cost share / match ?
Not required · Work out your budget and match
Who can apply
Other (see eligibility)
Where
Anywhere in the U.S., including Tennessee

Before you apply: federal grants require an active SAM.gov registration (Unique Entity ID) and a Grants.gov account. The deadline is in 26 days. If your registration isn't already active, it may not be ready in time, so check it today. Grant-ready checklist

How this fits you

  • Available in Tennessee (nationwide program)
  • No cost share required
  • Tennessee recipients since 2023: 9

Tell us who you are to see whether you're eligible.

More from Department of Housing and Urban Development

Read the official notice View on Grants.gov Add deadline to my calendar Sign in to save

About this grant

Congress amended the Fair Housing Act in 1988 to establish the Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) to provide funding to entities to work alongside HUD to "prevent or eliminate discriminatory housing practices" 42 USC §3616a (a). Congress determined in 1987, and has affirmed each year since then through appropriations, that HUD can only achieve its fair housing mission and obligations through supporting a network of organizations helping to educate the public and enforce fair housing rights. Initially a demonstration program, Congress made FHIP permanent in 1992 through the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992. The program was expanded in 1992 to address building capacity in unserved areas, establish a national media campaign, and fund a National Fair Housing Month.FHIP provides funds to eligible organizations through competitive grants under four initiatives: the Fair Housing Organizations Initiative (FHOI), the Private Enforcement Initiative (PEI), the Administrative Enforcement Initiative (AEI), and the Education and Outreach Initiative (EOI).This NOFO funds the PEI to provide grants to a nationwide network of eligible private, non-profit fair housing enforcement organizations to conduct testing and investigate violations of and enforce the Fair Housing Act, and State or local laws with equivalent rights and remedies.

Eligibility (from the notice)

To receive an award under this NOFO your organization must be organized as a private, tax-exempt, nonprofit, charitable 501(c) (3) organization currently engaged in complaint intake, complaint investigation, testing for fair housing violations, and enforcement of meritorious claims; and either a: Qualified Fair Housing Enforcement Organization (QFHO) with at least two years of experience in all of the following fair housing enforcement related activities in the three years prior to filing the application hereunder: complaint intake, complaint investigation, testing for fair housing violations, and enforcement of meritorious claims experience; or a Fair Housing Enforcement Organization (FHO) with at least one year of experience in all of the following fair housing enforcement related activities: complaint intake, complaint investigation, testing for fair housing violations, and enforcement of meritorious claims experience. See 42 U.S.C. §3616a (b) and (h). You must complete Appendix B, Certification for PEI Applicants, to certify QFHO or FHO status. If your organization does not currently qualify as a QFHO or FHO (see 24 CFR §§ 125.103 and 125.401), you may be eligible to apply under the FHIP Education and Outreach Initiative (EOI), or Fair Housing Organizations Initiative (FHOI) NOFOs. Please see each NOFO for specific eligibility requirements. If an applicant applies for both a PEI and FHOI Continuing Development Component grant and receives an award for both, HUD will rescind funding for the FHOI award if the activities for both awards are exactly alike or substantially similar. Co-applicants or members of a consortium are not eligible applicants under this NOFO. Individuals, foreign entities, and sole proprietorship organizations are not eligible to compete for, or receive, awards made under this announcement.

Should we apply? (2-minute check) Ask a partner for a letter

Your schedule, working back from the deadline

  1. Oct7
    Check that your SAM.gov registration is active (or start it now)
    Grants.gov: allow up to 10 business days for SAM registration, weeks or months if information isn't verified. It must be renewed every year. Grants.gov
  2. Oct12
    Ask partners for letters of support or commitment
    Suggested: partners need time to write and sign letters.
  3. Oct26
    Finish a complete draft for a final review
    University grant offices require final versions about 5 business days before the sponsor deadline. Emory Office of Sponsored Programs
  4. Oct31
    Submit
    Grants.gov: submit at least 24–48 hours before the deadline: uploads fail, systems slow down, errors need fixing. Grants.gov blog
  5. Nov2
    Deadline
    From the funder.

Save this grant to put these dates in your tracker and private calendar.

What the official notice requires

Pulled from the funding notice Foa_Content_of_OFH-2600-DC-021C.pdf (79 pages) so you can see the requirements at a glance. Each item shows the notice's own words; open the page to read it in context. The notice itself always controls.

Award size and project length

  • Project period: 12 months · p. 6
    “The maximum award is $1,000,000 for a 24-month project period consisting of two separate consecutive 12-month performance and budget periods, with a” Open page 6
  • Project period: 24 months · p. 11
    “You must submit a separate SOW and a separate Form HUD-424-CBW Budget with your application, for each consecutive 12-month performance and budget period that comprise the 24-month project period, or your application will be deemed ineligible and will not be…” Open page 11
  • Award amounts here are per year · p. 25
    “Your proposed budget must set aside exactly $7,500 annually to participate in HUD- sponsored or HUD-approved training.” Open page 25

Registrations you need first

  • SAM.gov · p. 3
    “SAM.gov Registration You must have an active and up-to-date account with SAM.gov, at the time of application and throughout the life of any award.” Open page 3
  • Unique Entity ID (UEI) · p. 3
    “SAM.gov also provides each organization with a unique entity identifier (UEI).” Open page 3
  • Grants.gov · p. 3
    “Grants.gov Registration You must have an active Grants.gov registration.” Open page 3
  • Login.gov · p. 3
    “This requires a Login.gov registration as well.” Open page 3

New to these? SAM.gov registration can take weeks, so start early: grant-ready checklist.

What to submit

  • Form SF-424 · p. 12
    “If inconsistent amounts are requested in an application selected for an award, the amount on the SF-424 will be deemed the controlling amount for purposes of determining eligibility and the award amount. 11.” Open page 12
  • Form SF-LLL · p. 29
    “Lobbying Certification form Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL) If applicable, required with the application Page limit:” Open page 29
  • Form SF-424B · p. 29
    “SF-424B Certification for a Drug-Free Workplace (HUD-50070) Required with the application Page limit:” Open page 29
  • Timeline or schedule of completion · p. 39
    “Your work plan must follow all NOFO requirements.” Open page 39
  • Budget narrative / justification · p. 40
    “Budget Narrative Your budget Narrative must” Open page 40
  • Letters of support or commitment · p. 41
    “To receive the point, you must include in your application a letter of commitment and HBCU status documentation.” Open page 41
  • Audit or financial statements · p. 57
    “See 2 CFR 200.328 See 2 CFR 200.328 or award terms Race, Ethnicity, and Other Data Reporting Recipients that provide HUD-funded program benefits to individuals or families, report data on the race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, and…” Open page 57
  • Resumes or bios of key staff · p. 71
    “If you propose hiring key personnel to fill project related positions, you must include an Administrative Task to recruit (advertise) and hire for the position, to provide HUD with the hiring notice and the resume of the selected applicant.” Open page 71
  • Project abstract or summary · p. 77
    “Required Abstract – Format This information must be in letter and number characters only.” Open page 77

Length limits

  • You: 10 pages max · p. 28
    “You may submit a maximum of 10 pages, double-spaced 12-point Times New Roman font on letter sized paper (8 1/2 x 11 inches) with at least 1-inch margins on all sides, for each Rating Factor 1, 2 and 4, excluding the charts permitted to be submitted as part…” Open page 28
  • Rating Factor: 1 page max · p. 36
    “Key Staff information may be provided in a graph or chart that will not count toward the Rating Factor 1 page limit;” Open page 36

Formatting rules

  • 12-point font, 1-inch margins, double-spaced · p. 28
    “You may submit a maximum of 10 pages, double-spaced 12-point Times New Roman font on letter sized paper (8 1/2 x 11 inches) with at least 1-inch margins on all sides, for each Rating Factor 1, 2 and 4, excluding the charts permitted to be submitted as part…” Open page 28
  • single-spaced · p. 28
    “FHEO will not review pages submitted in excess of the permitted Rating Factor page limits, including if single spaced pages are submitted [in that case FHEO will stop reading after the equivalent of the double-spaced page limit has been reached].” Open page 28
  • double-spaced · p. 77
    “The Abstract is not required to be double spaced.” Open page 77

How applications are scored (65 points listed)

Build your narrative outline from these criteria

  • Description of Staff and Staff Expertise: 10 points · p. 35
    “Capacity of Applicant and Relevant Organizational Experience 20 max points Description of Staff and Staff Expertise – 10 points Organizational Experience – 10 points Rating Factor 2:” Open page 35
  • Organizational Experience: 10 points · p. 35
    “Capacity of Applicant and Relevant Organizational Experience 20 max points Description of Staff and Staff Expertise – 10 points Organizational Experience – 10 points Rating Factor 2:” Open page 35
  • Proposed Solution (Program Objectives, Effectiveness of Plan and Alignment to Needs): 10 points · p. 35
    “Need/Distress/Extent of the Problem 50 max points Problem Statement and Proposed Solution (Program Objectives, Effectiveness of Plan and Alignment to Needs) - 10 points Required Narrative Element 1 – 10 points Required Narrative Element 2 – 10 points…” Open page 35
  • Statement of Work (SOW) and SOW Narrative: 10 points · p. 35
    “Soundness of Approach 20 max points Statement of Work (SOW) and SOW Narrative – 10 points Budget Form HUD-424-CBW and Budget Narrative – 10 points Rating Factor 4:” Open page 35
  • CBW and Budget Narrative: 10 points · p. 35
    “Soundness of Approach 20 max points Statement of Work (SOW) and SOW Narrative – 10 points Budget Form HUD-424-CBW and Budget Narrative – 10 points Rating Factor 4:” Open page 35
  • Measurement: 5 points · p. 35
    “Achieving Results and Program Evaluation 10 max points Measurement – 5 points Evaluation Plan – 5 Points Policy Initiative Preference Points 7 max points” Open page 35
  • Problem Statement and Proposed Solution: 10 points · p. 37
    “Problem Statement and Proposed Solution - 10 points” Open page 37

Dates in the notice

  • 11/02/2026 · p. 5
    “OFH-2600-DC-021C Federal Assistance Listing(s): 14.418 Key Dates Application Due Date: 11:59:59 PM Eastern Time on: 11/02/2026 Anticipated Award Date: 02/28/2027 Estimated Performance Period Start Date: 07/01/2027 Estimated Performance Period End Date:…” Open page 5

Mistakes that get applications rejected

  • Could get your application rejected · p. 10
    “Applicants with outstanding, unresolved matters or judgments against them for violations of civil rights laws must resolve those judgments before the application submission deadline or the applicant will be deemed ineligible.” Open page 10
  • Could get your application rejected · p. 11
    “Eligibility OFH-2600-DC-021C Page 11 of 79 application deadline are deemed ineligible.” Open page 11
  • Could get your application rejected · p. 11
    “You must submit a separate SOW and a separate Form HUD-424-CBW Budget with your application, for each consecutive 12-month performance and budget period that comprise the 24-month project period, or your application will be deemed ineligible and will not be…” Open page 11
  • Could get your application rejected · p. 12
    “An application that does not include a narrative response to each of the four Rating Factors will be deemed ineligible and will not be reviewed. 12.” Open page 12
  • Could get your application rejected · p. 19
    “Applicants with unresolved civil rights matters at the application deadline are deemed ineligible.” Open page 19
  • Could get your application rejected · p. 20
    “In addition, all proposed surveys/data gathering must be approved by HUD and the OMB under the Paperwork Reduction Act before the application submission, or the activity is deemed ineligible. 7.” Open page 20
  • Could get your application rejected · p. 22
    “Failure to do so will result in the application being deemed ineligible; ineligible applications will not be reviewed.” Open page 22
  • Could get your application rejected · p. 31
    “However, applications that consistently request funding outside of the maximum or minimum award limits will be deemed ineligible and will not be reviewed.” Open page 31

Who in Tennessee has won this program

5 awards to Tennessee recipients in 2 counties since federal FY2023. Largest shown:

Past Tennessee recipients
RecipientWhereAmountFY
West Tennessee Legal Services IncJackson, Madison County$1.2M2024
Tennessee Fair Housing CouncilNashville, Davidson County$1.2M2022
West Tennessee Legal Services IncJackson, Madison County$1.1M2021
Tennessee Fair Housing CouncilNashville, Davidson County$425K2026
West Tennessee Legal Services IncJackson, Madison County$322K2022

Source: USAspending.gov. Past awards show who this program funds; they don't guarantee future awards.

Tennessee groups that got this money through a state agency or another grantee

This federal money also reaches local groups as subawards. 4 subawards on file. Largest shown:

Tennessee subaward recipients
RecipientWhereThroughAmountFY
Legal Aid Society Of Middle Tennessee And The CumberlandsNashville, Davidson CountyWest Tennessee Legal Services Inc$49K2024
Legal Aid Society Of Middle Tennessee And The CumberlandsNashville, Davidson CountyWest Tennessee Legal Services Inc$49K2024
Legal Aid Of East TennesseeKnoxville, Knox CountyWest Tennessee Legal Services Inc$39K2024
Legal Aid Of East TennesseeKnoxville, Knox CountyWest Tennessee Legal Services Inc$39K2024

Source: USAspending.gov subaward reports (prime recipients report subawards of $30,000 or more).

About the program (14.418)

Private Enforcement Initiatives — (FHIP PEI) United States Department of Housing and Urban Development - Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity

How applications are judged

The selection criteria are based on rating and ranking by a Technical Evaluation Panel. Under this competitive process, applicants are ranked based on Rating Factors points, preference points, and past performance and applicant risk. The specific criteria and associated points assigned are listed in the Notice of Funding Opportunity.

Matching requirements

This program has no statutory formula. Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

Examples of funded projects

Fiscal Year2025: Grant funds will be used to: implement an expanded program of paired sales and rental testing, paired mortgage lending tests, reasonable accommodation testing and accessibility surveys; provide a hotline for housing providers seeking legal advice on fair housing laws; conduct fair housing trainings and webinars for housing providers and industry professionals; provide Fair Housing outreach to the community; conduct intakes on housing discrimination allegations; file fair housing complaints; conduct litigation and mediations; and monitor past settlements to ensure compliance.

Program listing on SAM.gov

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