Chicago organizations received $1.4 million in HUD funds to tackle housing discrimination.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development announced yesterday $28 million in grants – $1.4 million of that due to Chicago organizations – to fight and investigate housing discrimination and promote equal housing opportunities.

Funded through the Fair Housing Initiatives Program, HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan said the grants will help HUD enforce the Fair Housing Act.

“These grants enable local fair housing and community organizations all over the nation to help HUD enforce the Fair Housing Act, and make people more aware of their fair housing rights,” Donovan said.

In all, eight different grants worth $1,484,481 will be issued to five Chicago institutions, including $125,000 to the Oak Park Regional Housing Center, two grants of $99,668 and $62,568 for the John Marshall Law School and two grants of $324,020 and $312,576 for the HOPE Fair Housing Center in Wheaton.

HUD Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing & Equal Opportunity, John Trasviña, said the grants could not have come at a better time.

“Last year, HUD filed more Fair Housing Act charges than any year since 2002,” Trasviña said. “The Fair Housing Initiatives Program grantees play a vital role to enhance our civil rights law enforcement efforts.”