Fair Housing Initiative Program - Education and Outreach Initiative - Tester Coordinator Training

The Fair Housing Initiatives Program is a significant source of funding for FHIP grantees that conduct fair housing testing in local communities across the country. Fair housing testing refers to the use of testers who, without any bona fide intent to rent or purchase property, pose as prospective renters or buyers of real estate for the purpose of determining whether housing providers and others are complying with the federal Fair Housing Act. The Department continues to be vigilant about ensuring that testing performed by testers with FHIP funds adhere to HUD’s investigatory standards so that it yields credible, objective and admissible evidence to aid in the enforcement of the federal Fair Housing Act. The Department acknowledges that great variation exists in the quality of fair housing testing performed by FHIP grantees. Some grantees have consistently demonstrated that testing produces strong evidence that can be used to forge effective legal challenges to discriminatory housing practices. Still some grantees exhibit lesser capabilities and uneven or less accomplished tract record. HUD recognizes the need to continually improve and standardized the quality of testing provided by testers employed by FHIP grantees.