The City of Houston’s Fair Housing Ambassador Program is an ongoing series supporting local organizations and individuals who are working to decrease housing discrimination and increase fair housing knowledge in their communities.
The 2021-2022 Fair Housing Ambassador Program will offer both grants and volunteer positions to support nonprofits and other community groups and individuals wanting to conduct fair housing outreach in their communities. The 2021-2022 Program will focus specifically on the fair housing needs and rights of renters in Houston with an emphasis on reaching historically underserved populations.
To further support those interested in becoming Ambassadors, the City has designed a series of free interactive virtual training sessions that are designed to expand local organizations’ and individuals’ knowledge of fair housing, grant writing, reporting techniques, and outreach and marketing methods. These trainings will be led by a team of marketing experts that have worked with communities throughout Texas and will help prepare attendees to create a fair housing outreach and marketing plan.
We are pleased to announce our outreach partners for the 2021-2022 Fair Housing Ambassador Program! We are excited to support these nonprofit organizations and advocates as they work to decrease housing discrimination and increase fair housing knowledge in their communities.
Fair Housing Ambassador
Virtual Training Sessions
Want to brush up on your marketing and outreach skills? Want to learn community outreach strategies from public relations professionals? Want to talk directly with your peers about outreach best practices? Want to learn how to maximize your marketing budget to reach your target community?
To support potential applicants and those interested in better connecting with their communities, HCD will host three free virtual trainings. The interactive trainings will be led by a team of marketing professionals from Taylor Collective Solutions . At the end of the training sessions, you will be better prepared to create an outreach strategy to help you more effectively engage with your community. Additionally, those who attend all three trainings will be given priority in the Fair Housing Ambassador Program application proposal evaluation.
Session 1
Fair Housing and Impactfully Reaching Communities in Need
November 30, 2021
9 to 11 AM
Learn the basics of fair housing, what it means to be a Fair Housing Ambassador, and the benefits of applying for community outreach grants.
Session 2
Effectively Communicating with Renters In Your Community
December 2, 2021
9 to 11 AM
Discover how housing discrimination affects renters and practice creating a marketing campaign to educate your community about fair housing.
Session 3
Funding, Implementing, and Tracking Outreach Plans
December 7, 2021
9 to 11 AM
Transform your fair housing marketing campaign from a hypothetical to an effective community outreach project. Take this opportunity to learn from experts in the field of marketing and community organizing. Create a winning strategy for the Fair Housing Ambassador grant program to earn funding for work in your community!
2021-2022 Fair Housing Ambassador Program
The Housing and Community Development Department supports and recognizes organizations and advocates working to decrease housing discrimination and increase fair housing knowledge in communities they serve. We are looking for organizations and advocates who are looking to expand their outreach or create a new initiative to address fair housing for renters in Houston.
Example fair housing outreach activities supporting Houston’s renters can include:
- Conducting educational workshops, trainings, and symposia
- Developing and executing mixed media tactics
- Developing and distributing PSAs, brochures, posters, infographics, fact sheets, etc.
The 2021-2022 Fair Housing Ambassador Program will select volunteer and funded Ambassadors to perform fair housing outreach activities focused on reaching Houston’s renter households. Funded Ambassadors will receive up to $7,000 of grant funding to complete their work. Any organization or individual may apply for funding regardless of participation in the three Fair Housing Ambassador Training Sessions, though applicants who attend all three trainings will be given priority during proposal evaluation. More information about the benefits and requirements are listed in the table below and in the application.
Ambassador Application Types
Volunteer Ambassador
Benefits
- Free Fair Housing Ambassador Trainings
- Featured on the Housing and Community Development Department’s website
- Digital badge to use in marketing
- Activities may be promoted through HCD’s communication channels
- Become a go-to fair housing expert and help your community
Requirements to be selected
- Submit a Volunteer Ambassador Application
- Demonstrate an understanding of fair housing
Requirements once Selected
- Sign a Volunteer Agreement
- Carry out all proposed activities
- Reach the number of individuals proposed
- Attend pre-selection, orientation, and wrap-up meetings
- Attend virtual check-in once a month
- Submit summary report at the end of outreach period
Funded Ambassador
Benefits
- Receive up to $7,000 in funding
- All of the benefits of the Volunteer Ambassador program
Requirements to be selected
- Submit a Funded Ambassador Application
- Priority will be given to applicants that attend all three Housing Ambassador Trainings
- Well demonstrated understanding of fair housing
Requirements once Selected
- Sign a Purchase Order Addendum
- Carry out all proposed activities
- Reach the number of individuals proposed
- Attend pre-selection, orientation, and wrap-up meetings
- Attend virtual check-ins every two weeks
- Submit all required documentation for reimbursement
- Submit summary report at the end of outreach period
Key Dates
November 16, 2021
10 AM - 11 AM
Virtual Grant Introduction Workshop
Replay MeetingNovember 16, 2021
Applications available online
November 30, 2021
9 AM - 11 AM
Session #1
Fair Housing and Impactfully Reaching Communities in Need
Replay Meeting
December 2, 2021
9 AM - 11 AM
Session #2
Effectively Communicating with Renters In Your Community
Replay Meeting
December 7, 2021
9 AM - 11 AM
Session #3
Funding, Implementing, and Tracking Outreach Plans
Replay Meeting
December 14, 2021
Application Deadline
All applications must be submitted by 11:59 pm CST
January 3, 2022
Grants Awarded & Volunteer Ambassadors Announced
(estimated)
Week of January 10, 2022
Virtual Orientation of Volunteer Ambassadors
(estimated)
Week of January 17, 2022
Virtual Orientation of Grant Awardees
(estimated)
January 24 (estimated) to April 29, 2022
Ambassador Marketing & Outreach Period
Fair Housing
The Fair Housing Act protects individuals and families from discrimination in the sale, rental, financing or advertising of housing based on their race, color, religion, family status, national origin, sex, or disability. HCD is committed to promoting fair housing and providing quality affordable homes in all neighborhoods. To learn more, please visit our Fair Housing page. For specific questions or concerns about fair housing or landlord/tenant relations, please contact Yolanda Guess-Jeffries at (832) 394-6200 Extension 5.
