James Announces $970K for Fair Housing in Capital Region

New York Attorney General Letitia James has announced a significant $970,000 grant to support fair housing initiatives in the Capital Region. This funding will be allocated to United Tenants of Albany, Inc. (UTA) and the Fair Housing Justice Center (FHJC), marking the first time such programs have been implemented in this region.

The Attorney General’s Office has awarded $520,000 to UTA for a new fair housing enforcement program and $450,000 to FHJC for training and technical assistance. The grants aim to address discriminatory housing practices that exacerbate social and economic inequalities in the Capital Region.

‘Access to housing is a basic human right, but too often, discriminatory practices and high prices prohibit countless New Yorkers from securing stable housing,’ said Attorney General James. ‘Investing in fair housing testing programs ensures we can create greater fair housing opportunities, protect tenants statewide, and hold landlords accountable.’

The Fair Housing Justice Center will subcontract with CNY Fair Housing, a Qualified Fair Housing Organization based in Syracuse, to provide services related to the new program. Attorney General James has previously utilized similar programs to expose and eliminate discrimination at real estate brokerages on Long Island.

This initiative is part of the Anti-Discrimination in Housing Fund, established by the New York state Legislature in 2021, which finances grants from licensing fees and discrimination fines collected from brokers and real estate agents.

These funds are intended to benefit local non-profit organizations focused on preventing illegal discriminatory housing practices. The new program is expected to promote fair access to housing for thousands of New Yorkers in the Capital Region.