About the Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana
The Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana (FHCCI) is a private, non-profit fair housing organization incorporated in August 2011.
History: The FHCCI was established through a U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development grant awarded to the National Fair Housing Alliance to establish a fair housing agency in central Indiana. Following its founding, staff were recruited and hired and the FHCCI went to full staff in January 2012. The FHCCI received its IRS non-profit status in January 2012.
Mission: The mission of the Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana (FHCCI) is to ensure equal housing opportunities by eliminating housing discrimination through advocacy, enforcement, education and outreach.
Vision: The Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana (FHCCI) recognizes the importance of “home” and envisions a country free of housing discrimination where every individual, group and community enjoys equal housing opportunity and access in a bias-free and open housing market. We envision a country where integrated neighborhoods are the norm, and private and public sectors guarantee civil rights in an open and barrier-free community committed to healing the history of discrimination in America.
Awards: The Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana has been honored with the following awards:
- Central Indiana Realtist Association Best of the Best Award (2015)
- Indiana Consortium of State and Local Human Rights Agencies President’s Award of Excellence (2017)
- Muslim Alliance of Indiana Honorable Judge David Shaheed Access to Justice Award (2017)
Programs: The FHCCI offers four main programs to fight housing discrimination and promote equal housing opportunity.
- Advocacy: Works to assist persons who feel they may be victims of housing discrimination, in an advocacy basis, in understanding their rights and options under fair housing laws. We also conduct fair housing investigations, both client-based and systemic, to determine if unlawful discrimination may be occurring. We file enforcement actions as necessary to address uncovered housing discrimination.
- Education: Provides education programs and activities to increase fair housing knowledge. We conduct trainings and conferences, distribute publications, support community events, issue e-newsletters, provide social media alerts and a website, release reports, and other activities to advance knowledge about fair housing laws. We work with consumers, the housing industry, and state and local policy makers to advance fair housing.
- Inclusive Communities: Offers programs to assist persons, neighborhoods, and communities who have been impacted by unlawful discrimination, disinvestment, or unequal housing opportunity. We also participate in community events and support other organizations through volunteer participation by staff and board members.
- Public Policy: Works to increase the awareness of policy-makers and regulators about the issues associated with fair housing. We work with local, state and federal legislators to ensure strong fair housing laws and policies. We also collaborate with fellow organizations to strengthen fair housing laws. Funding restrictions impact significantly the ability of the FHCCI to be involved on issues of public policy.
