The Texas Housers and the Northeast Action Collective have filed a civil rights complaint against the General Land Office over claims alleging the agency has intentionally been discriminatory by denying federal funds to support the recovery of Black and Hispanic communities from Hurricane Harvey.
Such funds known as Community Development Block Grant-Mitigation (CDBG-MIT) are meant to build community resilience and reduce risks such as life and property losses, in case of disasters.
The federal funds are required by law to be equitably distributed and to follow fair housing guidelines, however, the Texas Housers claim the GLO has failed to follow the law.
According to the Texas Housers, the GLO used a flawed needs assessment and allocation process that was intentionally discriminatory, based on race and national origin which advantages white communities while systematically and deliberately denying low- and moderate-income African American and Hispanic individuals and communities’ equal access to the federal funds.
Initially scheduled for June 14th, the virtual press conference is now scheduled to happen on June 25th, where the Texas Housers will announce the submission of a Title VI Complaint to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
