WASHINGTON — Legal Assistance of Western New York and Chautauqua Opportunities Inc. are among the agencies receiving money from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to confront violations of the Fair Housing Act.

Chautauqua Opportunities has received $125,000 while Legal Assistance of Western New York Inc. received two grants totaling $410,500. The grants are being awarded through HUD’s Fair Housing Initiatives Program and the Fair Housing Assistance Program to help people who believe they have been victims of housing discrimination and to educate the public and housing providers on the nation’s fair housing laws.

More than $1 million of the funding announced today is being awarded to grantees located in Opportunity Zones. Created under the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Opportunity Zones aim to stimulate long-term investments in low-income communities.

HUD’s Fair Housing Initiatives Program grants support a wide range of fair housing enforcement, education and outreach activities. The grants will allow the groups to provide fair housing enforcement through testing in the rental and sales markets, file fair housing complaints with HUD and conduct investigations. Additionally, the education and outreach activities help educate the public, housing providers and local governments about their rights and responsibilities under the Fair Housing Act.