Fair Housing Initiatives Program -Education and Outreach Initiative -Test Coordinator Training

Description

EOI- Test Coordinator Training ComponentAmount Available- $500,000Project Period- 12-18 monthsAward Cap- $500,000Applicant Eligibility- QFHOs, other FHOs, and other nonprofit organizations representing groups of persons protected under Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, agencies of State or local governments and agencies certified by the Secretary under section 810(f) of the Fair Housing Act, or other public or private entities that are formulating or carrying out programs to prevent or eliminate discriminatory housing practices; agencies of State or local governments; and agencies that participate in the Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP).Eligible Activities- Applicants must develop and implement a test coordinator training program for fair housing testing coordinators working for organizations participating in HUD’s FHIP Private Enforcement Initiative (PEI) and Fair Housing Organizations Initiative (FHOI).Applicants must propose training activities that address a variety of testing approaches and structures as well as provide coordinators with the most effective methodologies, technology, and techniques appropriate for productive testing approaches for each testing situation, including effective alternative methods for remote testing. Activities should also include continued technical assistance after training is completed throughout the period of performance. Training should also address primary differences in testing between regions (e.g., some states do not permit secret recordings).The training should contain both basic (general) and advanced (complex) training modules. Eligible activities will also include a comprehensive evaluation of the training quality and impact. Applicants should propose a plan to evaluate training impact, including an assessment of the need for additional or supplemental trainings.Applicants must propose a strategy to provide test coordinator training on the training topics listed below:1. General or Basic Test Coordinator Training (rental and sales) – Teach coordinators the principles and applications of testing, including audit testing, complaint-based enforcement testing, and systemic enforcement testing. The proposed training should educate test coordinators on designing tests with the most effective structure and approach (e.g., matched pair phone tests, or a triad of in person buyer tests). Training should include an overview of the history of testing and the housing industry from a national perspective, including how HUD, DOJ, the U.S. Supreme Court, advocates, and non-profits have used testing to further fair housing. 2. Advanced or Complex Test Coordinator Training (lending, insurance, appraisal valuation/bias, discriminatory effects discrimination) – Teach coordinators the principles and applications of testing in mortgage lending, appraisal and algorithmic bias, and homeowners' insurance contexts. In addition, teach coordinators to conduct testing to uncover evidence of discriminatory effects on classes of persons protected under the FHA (e.g., from source of income discrimination and discrimination resulting from criminal records policies). Provide an overview of the mortgage lending, appraisal, insurance markets, as well as the history of testing in those contexts. Provide testing tools and methods that uncover covert forms of discrimination and/or recognize use of algorithms that result in unjustified effects protected class groups under the FHA or under a substantially equivalent state or local law. Discuss how testing in these contexts can help identify failures by HUD recipients to affirmatively further fair housing. Modes of testing should include utilization of a variety of techniques, such as in-person testing, telephone testing, and internet/email testing.

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