Opportunity Information: Apply for OFH 2600 DC 021C
The FAIR HOUSING INITIATIVES PROGRAM PRIVATE ENFORCEMENT INITIATIVE (PEI) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under the Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP), which Congress created through amendments to the Fair Housing Act in 1988. The core purpose of FHIP is to help HUD "prevent or eliminate discriminatory housing practices" by funding a national network of organizations that educate the public, identify discrimination, and enforce fair housing rights. Congress has repeatedly reinforced the idea that HUD cannot fully carry out its fair housing responsibilities on its own, and that sustained support for local and regional enforcement partners is essential. While FHIP started as a demonstration effort, it became a permanent program in 1992 under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992, and it was also expanded to strengthen fair housing capacity in underserved areas and support broader awareness efforts, including national campaigns and Fair Housing Month activities.
This specific Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) funds the Private Enforcement Initiative (PEI), one of four FHIP grant initiatives (alongside the Fair Housing Organizations Initiative, Administrative Enforcement Initiative, and Education and Outreach Initiative). PEI is aimed at supporting private, nonprofit fair housing enforcement organizations that do hands-on enforcement work. The funded activities focus on conducting fair housing testing, receiving and investigating complaints, and pursuing enforcement of meritorious claims under the federal Fair Housing Act as well as state or local fair housing laws that provide equivalent rights and remedies. In practical terms, this is the part of the fair housing ecosystem that involves structured investigations (including paired testing to detect discriminatory treatment), case development, and enforcement actions designed to stop discriminatory practices and secure relief for harmed individuals and communities.
Eligibility is narrow and enforcement-oriented. Applicants must be private, tax-exempt, nonprofit, charitable organizations recognized under IRS 501(c)(3), and they must already be actively engaged in the key fair housing enforcement functions: complaint intake, complaint investigation, testing for fair housing violations, and enforcement of meritorious claims. On top of that, applicants must qualify as either a Qualified Fair Housing Enforcement Organization (QFHO) or a Fair Housing Enforcement Organization (FHO), as defined in statute and regulations. A QFHO generally needs at least two years of experience in all required enforcement activities within the three years before applying, while an FHO generally needs at least one year of such experience. Applicants must complete Appendix B (Certification for PEI Applicants) to certify their QFHO or FHO status. Organizations that do not meet these enforcement-organization definitions are directed to consider other FHIP competitions, particularly the Education and Outreach Initiative (EOI) or the Fair Housing Organizations Initiative (FHOI), depending on their capacity and program focus.
The NOFO also places clear limits on how applications can be structured. Co-applicants and consortium applications are not allowed under this competition, meaning a single eligible organization must apply on its own rather than as a formal partnership applicant group. Individuals, foreign entities, and sole proprietorships are expressly ineligible. There is also an important overlap rule involving FHOI: if an organization applies for both a PEI grant and an FHOI Continuing Development Component grant and wins both, HUD will rescind the FHOI funding if the work plans are exactly alike or substantially similar, which is intended to prevent duplicate federal funding for the same activities.
Key administrative details from the listing include the opportunity number OFH 2600 DC 021C and CFDA (Assistance Listing) 14.418, with the funding activity category identified as Law, Justice and Legal Services. The application closing date is listed as 2026-11-02. HUD anticipates making about 13 awards, and the maximum award amount (ceiling) is $1,500,000. Overall, the PEI competition is designed for established, enforcement-capable nonprofit fair housing organizations that can demonstrate a track record of testing, investigation, and enforcement work, and that are prepared to expand or sustain direct fair housing enforcement services in coordination with HUD’s broader fair housing mission.Apply for OFH 2600 DC 021C
- The Department of Housing and Urban Development in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FAIR HOUSING INITIATIVES PROGRAM PRIVATE ENFORCEMENT INITIATIVE" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 14.418.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-07-02.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-11-02. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 13 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the FAIR HOUSING INITIATIVES PROGRAM (FHIP) Private Enforcement Initiative (PEI)?
The Private Enforcement Initiative (PEI) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under the Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP). PEI specifically supports private, nonprofit fair housing enforcement organizations that do hands-on enforcement work to prevent or eliminate discriminatory housing practices.
What is the overall purpose of FHIP?
The core purpose of FHIP is to help HUD "prevent or eliminate discriminatory housing practices" by funding a national network of organizations that educate the public, identify discrimination, and enforce fair housing rights. Congress has repeatedly emphasized that HUD cannot fully carry out its fair housing responsibilities on its own and that sustained support for local and regional enforcement partners is essential.
How does PEI fit within FHIP?
PEI is one of four FHIP grant initiatives. The other initiatives are the Fair Housing Organizations Initiative (FHOI), Administrative Enforcement Initiative, and Education and Outreach Initiative (EOI). PEI is the enforcement-focused initiative intended for organizations that already conduct direct fair housing enforcement activities.
What types of activities does PEI fund?
PEI funds enforcement-centered fair housing activities, including:
- Conducting fair housing testing (including structured approaches such as paired testing to detect discriminatory treatment)
- Receiving and investigating fair housing complaints
- Pursuing enforcement of meritorious claims under the federal Fair Housing Act
- Pursuing enforcement under state or local fair housing laws that provide equivalent rights and remedies
What does HUD mean by "testing" in the context of PEI?
In this context, testing refers to structured investigations designed to identify discriminatory housing practices. The opportunity description specifically mentions paired testing as an example used to detect discriminatory treatment.
What does "enforcement of meritorious claims" mean for this program?
Based on the opportunity description, enforcement of meritorious claims involves developing cases and taking enforcement actions intended to stop discriminatory practices and secure relief for individuals and communities that have been harmed by housing discrimination.
Who is eligible to apply for a PEI grant?
Eligibility is narrow and enforcement-oriented. Applicants must be:
- Private, tax-exempt, nonprofit, charitable organizations recognized under IRS 501(c)(3)
- Already actively engaged in fair housing enforcement functions, including complaint intake, complaint investigation, testing for fair housing violations, and enforcement of meritorious claims
- Qualified as either a Qualified Fair Housing Enforcement Organization (QFHO) or a Fair Housing Enforcement Organization (FHO), as defined in statute and regulations
What is the difference between a QFHO and an FHO for PEI eligibility?
The opportunity description explains the experience thresholds as follows:
- A QFHO generally needs at least two years of experience in all required enforcement activities within the three years before applying.
- An FHO generally needs at least one year of experience in all required enforcement activities.
Is prior experience required to apply?
Yes. Applicants must already be actively engaged in complaint intake, complaint investigation, testing, and enforcement of meritorious claims, and must qualify as either a QFHO or an FHO based on prior experience.
Do applicants need to submit any certification regarding eligibility status?
Yes. Applicants must complete Appendix B (Certification for PEI Applicants) to certify their QFHO or FHO status.
Are individuals eligible to apply?
No. Individuals are expressly ineligible under this competition.
Are foreign entities eligible to apply?
No. Foreign entities are expressly ineligible under this competition.
Are sole proprietorships eligible to apply?
No. Sole proprietorships are expressly ineligible under this competition.
Can organizations apply as co-applicants or as a consortium?
No. Co-applicants and consortium applications are not allowed for this competition. A single eligible organization must apply on its own rather than as a formal partnership applicant group.
If an organization is not a fair housing enforcement organization, should it still apply for PEI?
The opportunity description indicates that organizations that do not meet the enforcement-organization definitions (QFHO or FHO) are directed to consider other FHIP competitions, particularly the Education and Outreach Initiative (EOI) or the Fair Housing Organizations Initiative (FHOI), depending on the organization’s capacity and program focus.
Can an organization apply for both PEI and FHOI?
The opportunity description references an overlap rule involving FHOI. If an organization applies for both a PEI grant and an FHOI Continuing Development Component grant and wins both, HUD will rescind the FHOI funding if the work plans are exactly alike or substantially similar. This is intended to prevent duplicate federal funding for the same activities.
What happens if PEI and FHOI work plans are substantially similar and both are awarded?
If both are awarded and the work plans are exactly alike or substantially similar, HUD will rescind the FHOI funding, according to the opportunity description.
What is the opportunity number for this PEI NOFO?
The opportunity number is OFH 2600 DC 021C.
What is the CFDA/Assistance Listing number for this program?
The CFDA (Assistance Listing) number is 14.418.
What is the funding activity category listed for this opportunity?
The funding activity category is listed as Law, Justice and Legal Services.
When is the application closing date?
The application closing date is listed as 2026-11-02.
How many awards does HUD anticipate making under this PEI competition?
HUD anticipates making about 13 awards.
What is the maximum award amount (ceiling) for this opportunity?
The maximum award amount (ceiling) is $1,500,000.
What kinds of organizations is this competition designed for?
This competition is designed for established, enforcement-capable nonprofit fair housing organizations that can demonstrate a track record of testing, investigation, and enforcement work, and that are prepared to expand or sustain direct fair housing enforcement services in coordination with HUD’s broader fair housing mission.
Why does HUD fund private fair housing enforcement organizations through FHIP?
The description explains that Congress has repeatedly reinforced the idea that HUD cannot fully carry out its fair housing responsibilities on its own. FHIP supports a national network of organizations that help prevent or eliminate discriminatory housing practices through education, identification of discrimination, and enforcement of fair housing rights.
When was FHIP created and when did it become permanent?
FHIP was created through amendments to the Fair Housing Act in 1988. While it started as a demonstration effort, it became a permanent program in 1992 under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992.
Has FHIP’s scope expanded over time?
Yes. The description notes that FHIP was expanded to strengthen fair housing capacity in underserved areas and support broader awareness efforts, including national campaigns and Fair Housing Month activities.
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