BANGOR – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded $275,000 to Pine Tree Legal Assistance Inc. to assist people who believe they have been victims of housing discrimination. The funding is part of $21.8 million awarded to 92 fair housing and other nonprofit agencies nationwide.

The funding is being awarded under the Fair Housing Initiatives Program, which helps local agencies investigate alleged housing discrimination and enforce the Fair Housing Act and state and local laws that are substantially equivalent to the act. Grants also are used to educate the public and housing providers about their rights and obligations under federal, state and local fair housing laws.

The Fair Housing Act prohibits housing discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, disability, family status and national origin. The Act covers the sale, rental, financing and advertising of almost all housing in the nation.

HUD and its fair housing partners investigate approximately 10,000 housing discrimination complaints annually. People who believe they are the victims of housing discrimination should contact HUD at 800-669-9777 or 800-927-9275. Additional information is available at www.hud.gov/fairhousing.