FACT SHEET: Biden-⁠Harris Administration Celebrates Third Anniversary of the Reestablishment of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships

Three years ago this month, President Biden signed an executive order reestablishing the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships (“Partnerships Office”). The Partnerships Office is an essential part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s plan to bring people of all backgrounds and beliefs together to meet our challenges, build a more perfect union, and restore the soul of our country. The Partnerships Office works with agency Centers for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships at the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Education, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Justice, and Veterans Affairs; the United States Agency for International Development; and the Small Business Administration; as well as staff at AmeriCorps, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department of Labor. Over the past year, this team has partnered with a wide range of faith-based and neighborhood organizations to advance shared priorities. Administration achievements include:

Safeguarding the right to practice faith without fear and other aspects of religious freedom

  • Secured the greatest funding increase in our nation’s history for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program to bolster the physical security of nonprofits, including churches, gurdwaras, mosques, synagogues, temples, and other places of worship. Created a guide to apply for this program, increased applications by 50%, and trained more than 7,600 faith leaders on maintaining safe places of worship.
  • Released the National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism, and announced the development of a National Strategy to Counter Islamophobia and Related Forms of Bias and Discrimination. These efforts include the following actions promoting religious freedom:
    • Produced materials for medical schools and health care providers on preventing discrimination in patient care, including on the basis of religion.
    • Increased access to all USDA feeding programs for USDA customers with religious dietary needs, including those who need kosher and halal food.
    • Distributed materials on nondiscrimination and workplace religious accommodations to employers and employees.
  • Expressed intent to amend DHS regulations in order to increase flexibilities for certain nonimmigrant workers, including religious workers.

Promoting health and supporting veterans

Expanding opportunity for all Americans

  • Assisted more than 113,000 low-income Americans with tax preparation through AmeriCorps programs, returning more than $84 million to eligible families.
  • Hosted the Department of Commerce National Partnerships Summit and convened the first-ever Commerce summits for Muslim American and Jewish American leaders to promote job creation, economic growth, and equity by providing information on small business loans, export promotion assistance, climate resilience support, and access to data and technology. Also connected young people to jobs, internships, and apprenticeships through the first Department of Commerce National Youth Summit, which convened over 350 youth in-person and over 2,000 youth online.
  • Addressed the housing needs of older Americans by training more than 2,500 members of faith-based and community organizations to assist renters over the age of 65 with cost-burden spending, and to leverage the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program, which helps nonprofits develop supportive housing for the elderly. 
  • Added 187,000 tutors and mentors to public schools through the National Partnership for Student Success.
  • Supported efforts to increase the supply of safe and affordable housing for low-income and homeless families by offering technical assistance related to the Housing Trust Fund, which provides grants to states to produce and preserve affordable housing.
  • Trained Tribal leaders to leverage HUD grants to expand affordable housing, address infrastructure needs, and increase homeownership.
  • Coordinated Small Business Sunday events with houses of worship to help small and minority-owned businesses grow and thrive.

Responding to natural disasters and protecting the environment

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